In 2007, the renowned South African rugby player Bryan Habana gained attention when he famously raced a cheetah in a “Man vs. Beast” competition to compare human and animal speed, although he did not win.
Fast forward to 2025, and Leeds United have reimagined the concept – with a high-octane twist.
In a surprising partnership with Red Bull Racing, three of Leeds United’s fleet-footed players – Willy Gnonto, Largie Ramazani, and Isaac Schmidt – competed against a Formula 1 car in a “Man vs. Machine” duel held on the Elland Road field. The F1 car was piloted by emerging F2 talent Arvid Lindblad.
The challenge was straightforward: both the players and the racing car needed to finish two laps along the length of the field, traveling from one side of the penalty box to the other and then returning.
So who won? The car – but only by the slimmest of margins.
Thanks to the slick grass surface and the sharp 180-degree turns, the F1 car struggled for traction, giving the Leeds trio a real chance. In the end, the machine just edged the race, crossing the finish line barely a second ahead of the players.
Reflecting on the challenge, Ramazani said: “This was a great experience, I wish we could do this every day with Red Bull. The only thing better would be getting in the car. I love F1. I went to the Monaco Grand Prix last week, which was a bucket list moment for me.”
Lindblad added: “Ahead of the race I was a bit nervous. I’d never driven on grass and had no idea how it would go. The car has a ton of horsepower and there is not much grip on grass, so I wasn’t sure if I could go full throttle and turn the car properly. It was great fun.”
Whether it’s a cheetah or a carbon-fibre machine, one thing is clear: as fast as we humans are, we’re just a step behind. But it’s in the chase – be it against beast or machine – that we find the thrill.
