Formula 1 stars Lewis Hamilton and David Coulthard joined the Red Arrows for a flight ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Engineering staff from the Mercedes factories in Brixworth and Brackley also joined the two racers for their experience at the Red Arrows’ base in Lincolnshire.
Hamilton said flying with the Red Arrows, who appear at the British Grand Prix every year, had been a great thrill.
He said: “We had an amazing day and I absolutely loved the experience of flying with their team.
“To see first-hand how skilled the pilots are, and the similarities to the level of team work and precision that we need to get the best out of a Formula One car, was fascinating.
“The loops and rolls in the jet are such an intense experience and I’ve got so much admiration for those guys and their unbelievable flying skills.
“They actually let me fly the jet on the first flight, the pilot brought me up into position and then gave me the controls.”
During a 30-minute flight, the two drivers went through a series of loops and rolls in the jets.