Imagine if you will, the modern alpha male, Nick we shall call him. He is sat on his sofa in his living room watching the Formula 1 on a Sunday afternoon. He has a beer in his right hand and a packet of crisps in the left, anger flares as his favourite driver has just ploughed his car into the wall at 160 mph. His response initially will be one of frustration and he will probably yell some kind of abuse towards his TV implying that the driver is “useless” and no doubt our alpha male would be able to do so much better.
Well Nick, I would disagree that you could do better and this is why.
An impact at this speed, 160 mph (approximately 257 kmph) like in the case of Heikki Kovalainen in Spain this year causes the car to decelerate at a force of 26G, that’s 26 times your body weight. Now think about this, his rib cage is static due to the five-point harness he was wearing. Are your internal organs strapped in? Absolutely not, they keep on going, hitting the inside of your rib cage at 160mph. This is enough to kill our alpha male in an instant. Sorry Nick, you tried your hardest.
But these F1 drivers are no ordinary human beings, they are super humans who push their bodies to extreme high limits for their passion. They go through rigorous training schedules and diets to maintain a level of fitness that should this kind of accident occur, then they have a higher chance of survival. It’s not only the survival that is in mind but just to get through a single race is a task in itself for a human body. In this article I will try to explain just what it takes to be a Formula 1 driver. You might be surprised.
When we say the word athlete we think of fit men and women who can run fast, hit hard, go for longer and are generally at the peak of physical fitness. The reason I choose F1 drivers for my study is to show that the makings of a great athlete come from not only the body, but also the mind.
I think that this is sometimes overlooked when people look at these guys who risk their lives week after week for their passion and our entertainment. It’s overlooked that they are on the whole, probably a lot fitter than your average athlete. This might have been proved this week when Honda driver Jensen Button completed a triathlon in 2 hours, 22 minutes, 43 seconds. This was an Olympic distance event consisting of a 1,500m swim, a 42km bike ride and a 10km run to the finish. To finish in this time considering the Olympic record is 1:48:24, is pretty impressive considering his job is “to sit in a car and drive.” Do you think our alpha male Nick would do so well to get within 35 minutes of an Olympic record over this distance?
So in what parts of the body do our drivers really focus to make them such athletes?
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Head
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Neck
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Heart (Cardiovascular)
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Core Strength
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Arms
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Legs
They focus on these parts to enable their bodies to endure up to and sometimes in excess of 90 minutes of speeds up to 200 mph (322 kmph) and lateral/longitudinal G-forces of 5G, unless they crash, in which case it is a lot more as described earlier.
Let’s break it down body part by body part now to explain just why I think Formula 1 drivers are often overlooked as possibly the world’s most incredible athletes that always seem to be forgotten about.
The Neck
Building up the neck muscles for an F1 driver is vital and one of the most important. When a driver hits a corner sometimes at high speeds or under rapid deceleration the G-force on the neck and head can be anything up to 5G. This means that everything is five times the weight. A driver’s helmet and HANS (Head and Neck Support) will weigh up to 7 kilograms. Multiply that by the G-force and he is trying to keep 35 kilograms of weight upright just so he or she can focus on the apex of the corner.
So to understand this weight just imagine having five butane gas canisters or five large fire extinguishers strapped to your head for two hours and then tell me that this is not a demonstration of physical agility.
To train for this the drivers may use a piece of equipment that is basically a helmet attached to pulleys, which pull and move the head and neck in different directions and angles. The driver must then resist the pull to strengthen the neck and upper back muscles. It’s not uncommon for the driver’s personal trainer to learn the next track that the driver will race and simulate the track by making the pulleys move in the corner sequence of the track thus making the driver prepared for the coming race.
- B/R Ticket Guide
The Heart (Cardiovascular)
Drivers have to go the distance on race days, there are no breaks where they can just get out of the vehicle and cool down. They can’t go to the touchline and grab a drink from a trainer and they don’t get a halftime or a time out. For F1 drivers it's constant physical endurance for the full race length, which as I have said before at an extreme level can be anything up to two hours long.
The average human being, that’s me and you folks (unless Lewis and Co. is reading this), has a resting heartbeat of 70 bpm. Our drivers tend to have a resting heart rate of about 45-50 bpm, which increases rapidly come race time.
As our driver sits on the grid waiting for the lights to go out, his heart rate has increased to 185 bpm even though he is not moving a single muscle. During the race adrenaline will push the heart rate up even higher, sometimes over 200 bpm. This will give an average reading of approximately 170 bpm. That heart rate of 170 bpm is equivalent to almost three beats every second. Count it and then imagine your heart going through that for the full two hours.
Did you know? - A driver’s blood pressure will increase by approximately 50 percent during a two-hour race.
Our driver is operating in cramped conditions that are hot and noisy. He will be strapped in with a five-point harness, which puts pressure on the crotch and chest. I am sure that it is difficult to breathe at the best of times in an F1 car. At the season’s hottest race in Malaysia the heat soared to 40 C and humidity was at an astounding 80 percent. Most drivers jumped out of the cars and almost passed out with the heat and dehydration. During a normal race in mild temperatures a driver will sweat out up to three litres.
Dehydration is bad for F1 drivers as it causes confusion and slow responses. Yes, the drivers do get liquids on board the vehicle, but at the very most it will be one litre of an energy drink that will contain vital salts lost through sweating to try and help maintain the high level of brain and muscle function. Even then the pump system used to transport this fluid to the driver often breaks and leaves the driver parched for the remainder of the race.
Getting back to the cardiovascular level, the fact is there is no other sporting activity other than a full distance marathon that will keep heart rates and temperatures as high and at such a long time as F1 does. Are you starting to get on board with me yet?
Core Strength
Steering this 750 horsepower beast of a car, which weighs the same as a modern Mini Cooper, is no easy task. The driver will use free weights and chest presses to strengthen chest and back muscles in order cope with assisting the neck and arms with moving the car round the track. The general idea for a driver will be to build strength and improve resistance.
The Arms
Drivers need incredibly strong arms for obvious reasons and while muscle is good, bulk is bad. This is why you don’t see an F1 driver getting into his car with arms like Mike Tyson. The muscles must be incredibly strong but not so big that the driver is carrying extra weight or size.
Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen for example will train his arm muscles to be strong by sitting balanced on a gym ball and holding out a three kilograms weight in front of him like it is a steering wheel. He will then be directed by his personal trainer to turn the wheel left, right or return to centre. This improves muscle strength over long periods of time and reaction times while under the pressure of keeping the weight held out in front of you. Drivers will purposely build up lactic acid in their muscles to help strengthen them to a level which will be required during a race period.
While us mortals would buckle from cramping and start to whimper like a grown man who has just stubbed his toes on a sharp corner, the drivers' bodies are used to this kind of strain and keep on going so that cramps will not develop at the wrong time.
The Legs
What does it take to stop this car that’s hurtling towards the next corner at 200 mph? Our driver needs to generate 80 kilograms of downward pressure on the brake pedal just to get this beast to slow. That is equivalent to about the weight of 175 bags of sugar. For the drivers to be able to do this, again the same rules apply for the legs as they do with the arms. Strong is good, bulk is bad.
A driver does need to have legs as thick as a small infant’s waist. As long as he is strong and his legs are prepared for the excess build up of lactic acid then he should be OK for all the times he will need to use the brake, approximately 1,500 times in an average race.
Now one for you guys: Get 175 bags of sugar, balance them on your legs, then over a period of two hours lift them up and down repeatedly roughly 1,500 times over the duration.
What do you mean no?
The pedal in an F1 car is quite stiff unlike your modern road cars. That's why so much pressure is required to press them to get the car to slow so rapidly. The driver must use the full-extended leg to press the brake. To train for this our driver will hold 90 kilograms on a press machine. Upon instruction he will need to quickly press down to lift the weight higher and then release when instructed but at all times keeping the weights elevated off the base. This will increase leg strength and also help the driver contend with the lactic acid build up thus making him prepared for the grueling task ahead.
Did you know? - An F1 car can brake from 115 mph (185kmph) in 3.5 seconds in a space of only 80 metres. Under this kind of braking the driver will experience a deceleration of 4G.
OK guys, you’re doing well so far to stay with me, not far to go now, just stay focused.
The Brain
I left the brain until last because I think this is the key to what I believe gives the Formula 1 drivers the edge over all other athletes in world sports. The brain will be constantly running at a very high activity level from the lights to the final straight. In fact the brain will be in gear even before he gets in the car.
Most drivers will enter a near meditative state before the race to focus their mind on the perfect start and the perfect lap. Running mentally through the procedures and corners one by one and seeing every apex on every corner as he visualises his route around the circuit. Some drivers use breathing techniques to settle the brain and help it maintain a state of soundness in preparation to what could be a huge crash. The driver must mentally be ready for that as well as physically.
There are a lot of things going on at any one time in an F1 car and the driver must be fully tuned in to fully make the car perform. He has the digital displays on his wheel showing everything he needs to see from the cockpit. He has the guy in front, the guy behind. He is thinking about racing lines, braking points, apexes and acceleration points on the track. He is thinking strategy. He is thinking about his rival’s strategy. He has his team in his ears constantly relaying times, positions, strategies, speeds, sector times and instructions. He is using his trained mind to help reduce heart rates via mental concentration and all of this at 200 mph in over 40 C, when all you want is a nice cold beer.
Could you imagine superstar footballer Christiano Ronaldo trying to do this or better still, our alpha male Nick?
To assist in training the mind and help with hand eye coordination, McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen uses a machine called a “batak reaction board.” This is basically a board with lots of panels on it which light up in a random sequence. The idea is to hit the panel to turn the light off as soon as you see it come on. It is said that a fighter pilot in 60 seconds will hit approximately 100 lights out and this is considered a good score. Heikki averages at 121 lights per session. Impressive?
Heikki is quoted as saying, “You have to be alert for different situations in F1. You have to be ready for something that is coming but you don't know when or where. Our job is to drive on average one-and-a-half days a week throughout the year, but the rest of the time is spent preparing for that. If we were not athletes, we'd just turn up and race, but if you are not physically and mentally prepared you cannot be successful in Formula 1.”
So there you have it, the low down on what a driver goes through and must train for to undergo just one race in the worlds most physically demanding sport. It is no walk in the park and these drivers, sorry...these athletes deserve so much more respect for what they do on a weekly basis in the name on entertainment for us mortals.
Most non-fans of the sport will suggest that they merely drive the car and depending on which cars are the fastest, then that will determine the outcome of the race. But hopefully after reading this you will understand that an awful lot is down to not only the physical, but mental strength of the driver. F1 drivers...we salute you.
Ben, Over and Out!
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5 months ago
Hey Ben
5 star all the way; but you owe me a POTD yes you do and I have evidence!!!! lol
scratch my back first buddy...lol
anyways I picked on a few things; first let's not call our average guy Nick, instead let's call him Ben and Ben invited his mate Alex over to his to watch the F1 and yes both of these alpha males reckon they could beat any F1 drivers at their own game hahahaha. Seriously though you mentioned dehydration and how sometimes the water pump just disconnects all together; apparently it gets worse cos during some of the races especially Malaysia where inside the cockpit temperatures will reach a whooping 60 degrees, u can imagine the water won't stay fresh even after 15 mins... see where I'm going!!
Also I like the way you mentioned lactic acid training, and how drivers get conditioned to hold a small weight for a long period of time putting their muscle under heavy strain yet building these muscles for both endurance and strength but not power which will give you extra unneeded bulk.
I personally Believe your alpha male could build up and in 6 months of gradual training on a daily basis of course he should be able to hold his own with the likes of Heikki and all!!!! Just got to believe in it, sorry Auty you got no excuse for not trying now get your gym membership sorted and get on with it!!!! you know what you got to do and what your goals are... A nation expects as it were hahahhaa!!! great article
from 5 months ago
Ha ha ... Cheers mate ... I appreciate the rating and POTD, get urself a new article on and POTD will be coming your way fella !
As for the gym ... I am a regular at the gym, its not uncommon to see me sweating it up amongst the fit girlies on the treadmills and bikes ! Love it ! I dont go for the health kick ! Ha ha !
5 months ago
Great analysis, Ben.
from 5 months ago
Thanks Adam. Appreciate that. Glad you enjoyed it !
5 months ago
Fantastic article
from 5 months ago
Thanks Sarah, Glad you enjoyed, cheers for your comments !
5 months ago
its crazy just what a F1 driver puts himself though. i understand that it was not going to be a walk in the park but i never knew that it was so harsh for them.
and by the way Alex - i quite like the fact that out alpha male is called Nick. haha - wonder why ??
good article
POTD and 5 *'s
from 5 months ago
Im going to change his name to Gordon to keep the fighting to a minimum, ha ha !
Cheers for score bro !
5 months ago
great article. i did an open mic article, and forgot f1. how the hell did i do that? i remeber driving a go-kart, not the same i no but stay with me, some tit crash into me and therefore, i flew into the wall. that was only like 60mph and i felt like i had died.
we all go on about oh he drives a force india, he's crap. no, he's a million times better than any of us will ever be.
from 5 months ago
Ha ha ha ... Cheers mate ... I must say I did read your open mic and I was slightly disappointed that you didnt pick F1, I mean look at what you could have wrote ! Ha ha ... Oh well ... You will get me next time man !
As for the go-kart, I can relate ... Someone flew into the back of me when on grid when my car had stalled and when he hit me I thought my brains where coming out of my nose ... Ha ha ... This is bloody go karting not F1 ... Makes you think dont it !
5 months ago
Great article, Ben. It's about time somebody set the record straight on this matter. Many of the points you raised are also mentioned by Bob Judd in his excellent novel, 'Formula One' (Pan Books, 1989).
I mention that only because there are so few fiction books available that deal with this sport. Another one I know of, which is a good read but has nowhere near the authenticity, is 'Bloodline' by Sydney Sheldon.
My worst karting experience was being slammed into a steel pole at 60 km/h. No lasting damage, but my neck hurt for hours after. Worst sporting injury ever was falling off a racehorse in Japan that slipped on a patch of snow, where my arm was sliced to the bone by the running rail. I also had a horse rear up and stomp on my hand after depositing me on the ground, but amazingly it did not do much harm!
The worst karting accident I have witnessed was a bunch of corporate galoots clowning around on some "team building" thing or whatever, and deliberately bumping one another (seriously, you'd think it actually takes some brains to work in a suit, wouldn't you?). This must have been hilarious fun, at least until one of them was forced off the track, hit some sort of obstacle and rolled the kart. Total & permanent paralysis.
It's not a sport for chickens, and clearly not for dummies either.
(I haven't seen a "Motor Racing for Dummies" book yet, but I bet it is only a matter of time!)
from 5 months ago
Yeah I thought it was about time it was realised just what these guys go through, maybe they will get some more respect from now on, ha ha !
Might have to look into those books, could be an interesting read !
Sounds like youhave been through the wars a bit with sporting injuries so of course you can sympathise with just how dangerous F1 is then. As for the guys in suits, thats terrible but motorsport is not to be toyed with ... Its a dangerous business !
Thanks for your comments !
from 5 months ago
Yes, it is horrific to be involved in an accident how minor or how big it is; Alex Zanardi the CART champion is such an example who lost both his legs yet had the courage to come back to test a revamped F1 car. It takes lot of spirit to get into that mean machine and do justice to all the elements.
from 5 months ago
Its more of a mental thing I would have thought to get back in the car after a big shunt but drivers today seem to handle it really well.
5 months ago
Over 1000 reads ... Wooooo ... Thats gotta be some kind of record ? Only 12 / 13 comments though ... Disappointed people, I hope you are all scoring this story before you leave ... Its only nice to do so !?
from 5 months ago
over 1000 reads and so few comments, wtf? am i right in assuming it's first 1000+ article?
if it is, then welcome to a very exclusive club mate. well deserved, though i still don't know how i forgot f1!
POTD at last, couldn't do it on the friday man. nice one.
from 5 months ago
got an idea mate, u could write a book - what makes an f1 driver? or sumfing like that. could sell well, u can buy me a merc cls then :) haha
from 5 months ago
Erm yeah I think it is my first ... My Rock 'N' Roll drivers one came close but this one busted it open in like a day ... I am OVER THE BLOODY MOON ! Ha ha ... I am in the 1000 club, do I get a green jacket or something ? ; )
Thanks for the POTD mate ... Appreciate that a lot !
As for writing a book ... I think I probably could ha ha ... I always try to keep my articles to 1000 words but I never succeed ... I always end up going WAY over, I get worried that peeps get bored reading my super long articles ha ha !
Then if I do ... Mike you can have your Merc, nee bother pet !
5 months ago
Wow, I am new to the site and if the quality of the writing is all as good as this then I am here to stay, thanks for the insight Ben, amazing piece of work. Thank you.
from 5 months ago
Hey Miles ... Welcome to Bleacher ... Hope you have a good un mate !
Thanks for your score, comment and POTD, great stuff man ... Appreciate it. Glad you liked the article !
5 months ago
Great article ben!! i wouldve given this the POD too, but i didn't see it until now!!
from 5 months ago
Theres always tomorrow ;) He he he ... Im kidding mate ... Dont worry about it. Thanks for your comments !
5 months ago
This is an awesome account of the level of preparation and commitment that a Grand Prix driver has to go through. Some of the stuff I didnt realise they had to do, some of those weight training activities are pretty tough! I totally agree, people I've spoken to scoff at how fit these drivers are and say exactly that: "sitting on their backsides driving a car". Yet, the ones that can drive complain how tiring driving a Fiesta at 40mph for an hour is and those learning whinge endlessly about turning the steering wheel hurting their arms. Driving a Formula One car is probably the most physically demanding activity a sportsman can do and I'm not going to poo poo other sports, because they're all different, but Golfers, Snooker players, Footballers in Newcastle Town Center on a Friday night...Are you all as fit as a Grand Prix driver? Excellent article.
from 5 months ago
Ha ha ha ... Hell no they are not as fit ... Tiger Woods drive an F1 car, NO ... Ronnie O'Sullivan drive an F1 car, NO ... Mark Viduka drive an F1 car, NO ... I think point proven !
5 months ago
I wouldn't say "athlete", but it's not something that just anyone could do. You definitely have to be in good shape. But not "athlete" in the traditional sense of the word.
from 5 months ago
Going to disagree with you and I am sure there are about 50 + people on this site who will back me up but I feel it necessary to refer you to the definition of the word 'Athlete' as you put it ...
Ath-Lete
A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts.
Are F1 drivers athletes people ? I THINK SOOOOOO ! Thanks for your comments Chris.
from 5 months ago
Gotta say they really are athletes. Take a look at drivers after a gruelling race such as those in Malaysia, hell anywhere where the action is frought and the racing hard and watch the sweat and the fatigue on the drivers. They're as athletic as any sportsman or woman, and they also dont have time to sit and cry about disaster, they have to jump back in the car after suffering what is basically a plane crash.
from 5 months ago
Well ... There is one ... Anyone else ? Ha ha
5 months ago
Great analysis!! And yes, F1 drivers are the best athletes out there! And apart from all the physical stuff, they are the smartest athletes in the world. You dont need to know anything about anything to play good football or basketball, or run the 100m (and most of these "champions" dont anyway). But you need to know a hell of a lot about physics, engineering, mechanics, fluid dynamics, and all things car related in order to sit inside and both be able to give feedback to mechanics and also understand what is required of you. Sure there are a few smart athletes in the other sports...but EVERY F1 driver needs to have a brain otherwise they'd just run the car off every apex.
I've played football for my university and basketball at a semi-professional level. I religiously watch tennis, football, basketball, swimming, volleyball, boxing and rugby. But from all those i admire F1 drivers the most, because the level of physical and psychological strength that is required of them everytime they get in that car is beyond anything any other athlete has to endure.
from 5 months ago
Yes exactly ... Those are the points I missed out on ... All the engineering and physics, all adds to the package needed to get one of these cars to go.
5 months ago
allo mate, today, of all days, i decided that it was good day to go karting. went to southend, got there about 4. raced the karts, then, some class-a numpty hits me from behind and, quite literally, flies over me. the impact haas given me a grade 1 concussion. after the hospital visit, i thought about your article, and tought how sodded i would be if it was an f1 situation.
anyone remeber martin brundle getting clattered in the head by jos verstappens benetton in brazil 94? any normal man would have died in an instant, especially with the safety levels back then.
overall POTD matey, well done.
from 5 months ago
Wow that is unlucky yes, can you imagine if that car was doing 200mph, ha ha ... OUCH ... Wouldnt fancy your chances.
Thanks for that mate ... Looks good on the front page dont it, POTD, YEAH ! ... Exciting times for Bleacher F1 community !
5 months ago
I don't always think there is enough Formula One insight into even a fraction of what the drivers are going through.
Obviously Martin Brundles reports last year were very good, but they didn't last long and we learnt not alot in terms of what actually is going through.
Well researched and well presented!
Interesting point on Gforce.... i went karting not long ago they go 70mph and i was on half an hour and by the end i was numb and actually feeling a bit of nausea..... and thats no where near what a grandprix driver is going through!
from 5 months ago
Thanks Craig ... I appreciate your comments ... Glad you think I have hit the nail with this one, I wanted to be sure I had it right so I did a lkot of research before actually compiling trhe article. Nothing more embarrassing than getting something as important as this wrong.
Going Karting really makes you think though doesnt it ... U go 70mph after that amount of time ... Imagine then going at up to 200mph after that amount of time ... Thats crazy what the body must be going through inside ... Impressive.
Thanks for your comments again mate. Appreciate it a lot.
5 months ago
I wish someone would pay me to do F1 training!
from 5 months ago
You and me both mate ! Ha ha
from 5 months ago
If both of you are better than Jensy and the gang and have won some Karting races and stuff, then I guess Ron Big Daddy can be persuaded to do a Lewis of you!
5 months ago
Great readership man! You deserve a standing ovation! Hats off to you for the value add that you bring to the b/r F1 page, mate!
from 5 months ago
Wow thanks Sara, thats amazing of you to say that. Thank you so much. I appreciate that !
5 months ago
Brilliant article Sir.
from 5 months ago
Thanks Woody, appreciate that ! Glad you enjoyed ! More where that came from ... Watch this space !
5 months ago
Very interesting read. I'll admit, I'm one of those stereotypical people who pictured competitive racing as just turning left, but this was a very good piece, I'm not sure I would actually watch F1, NASCAR, or any other league of that ilk, but at the very least I learned something, as I said, very good and interesting read.
from 5 months ago
Be careful not to confuse F1 and Indy racing or Nascar ... This report is based purely on F1 drivers ... I wouldnt imagine that Indy or Nascar drivers go through anywhere near this much punishment race after race ... Thank you for your comments, glad that I have informed you, you learn something every day hey. Ha ha ... I appreciate your comments !
from 5 months ago
yeah I know, I included Nascar as another racing league that I don't watch
from 5 months ago
Ahhh right understood ! Sorry !
5 months ago
Ben, you know how I'm always so keen to be agreeable... I mean it must be obvious enough by now! But once again I must throw my spanner into the arena (ha ha, any excuse to work an automotive reference into things) and declare that I must disagree about the Tiger Woods thing.
By this I mean that Tiger is not currently in the physical condition of a F1 driver (but he is very fit, when he has two good legs). At 6'1 and 180lbs he might be a little bit too big for this game, but otherwise I think he would be fine.
Tiger has an incredible amount of mental toughness, which is a huge asset in any sport, and of course motor racing is no exception. He's also a good judge of distance and velocity, both of which would come in handy.
There's no way to know for sure (but it would be great to see him compete in a celebrity race or something). I think there are very few things that Tiger could not do well if he really put his mind to it. He has incredible focus and competitiveness. A great sportsman, even though there are many people that feel the game he plays is not a sport.
from 5 months ago
I have know doubt in my mind that mentally Tiger Woods is up there at the top of the tree when it comes down to it, his mind is incredible BUT
Lets cast aside the height problem, Lets just say he is an ideal height, while I am not going to knock the guy for his physical strength at all because let me tell you to win that open last week in his condition was nothing short of spectacular, he is a credit to the sport and I will be proud to say to my children that I saw Tiger play on many occasions and to try and describe to them just how good he is / was (When I am old) will no doubt be very difficult !
Anyway I am losing track here ... Lets cast the height aside ... You put Woods in an F1 car in current peak fitness and the car will crush him ... I am not saying that he wouldnt do a hell of a lot better than most men would but the car would crush him. I urge you to read the article again and think about it ... Yes he is fit but fit enough to take this kind of strain for 10 minutes ... No ... How about 2 hours ...
Not a chance unfortunely ... You make a good point though Brad so thanks for your feedback !
5 months ago
Yeah, but how about with a bit of training, physical conditioning to prepare for it? I mean I could easily imagine him flying a fighter jet (F5 Tiger?), so if he could be shrunk down to fit comfortably in the car...
That's the main problem really. I mean, he is a very strong fella. I wouldn't be in a hurry to get in the boxing ring with him!
But he's big. He always wears those baggy Nike shirts and prissy little vests, and they make him look like "Nerd of the Century", but actually if you see him in person you will realize he is a lot bigger than he looks in the pictures.
He's got really wide shoulders and massive forearms. It's just that in motor racing being big is not an advantage.
Anyway, as as sponsor faced with a choice between Tiger Woods or Ronnie Corbett...
from 5 months ago
Yes Brad but thats the whole point ... To be fair with a bit of physical conditioning and training there are many non athletes that could do it ... So your whole argument is null.
Dont get me wrong I know he is a fit fella and you cant hit a ball that far with scrawny arms I know he has got moves but in an F1 car ... Forget it mate !
5 months ago
Ben, very nice observations. I worked on a similar article in my journalism class this past semester (albeit mine covered motorsports in general instead of a specific series). All the same, nice points. I have found article in which the writer put himself through an F1 fitness test, only to find he wasn't anywhere close to the fitness level drivers are at (he even said that his results in the G-force test show he would have only lasted a couple of turns).
from 5 months ago
Its a crazy sport and I feel that my article hopefully will just show what these guys go through ... I think slowly but surely I am getting there ... People are getting on board and starting to understand ha ha ! Thanks for your comments Kyle.
4 months ago
Great article first off. I have driven a Formula 2000 race car myself and it is amazing. People dont lie when they are quoted saying driving like that is meditation. I can tell from first hand experience that it is. All I can remember feeling, while driving, is the steering wheel in my hands, the petals at my feet and maybe if I try real hard, the seat on my ass. I whipped the car around Limerock raceway and at Watkins Glen Int.... Amazing. I truly believe that if some one punched me in the ear and I took off around the Glen in a f2000 i would forget all about the throbbing pain. I also had a nice shunt coming out of the bus stop chicane. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watkins_Glen_International ) I was flyimg through there all day, topping at 120mph, braking at ar around the 200 mark then flying through the chicane at 80mph or so. Last run of the day... i grabbed too much curb on exit, spun and hi the wall backwards at or around 80mph. sheered engine mounts, shifted engine, torn off rear spoiler, destroyed rear suspension, bent front spoiler and suspension...7000$.... paramedics looking at you like they've seen a ghost because yer pulse is only 84... priceless
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