Why F1 Is One Of The Most Grueling Sports

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So far this season, I’ve gone to lengths to talk about how various technical andmechanical aids make today’s Formula 1 machinesamong the most complex and intricate in the world of sport. On the eve of theweekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, it was interesting to hear 2009 World Champion andMcLaren driver Jenson Buttontalk about just how taxing the long Marina Bay circuit in Singapore is on driver fitness.With 61 counterclockwise laps of 3.152 miles, the Singapore Grand Prix lasts just over twohours and the track is extremely bumpy. And with drivers having to adapt toracing on European time at night in 30-degree heat and 70% tropical humidity, they expectto lose up to three kilos of fluid during the race. This all makes it the most gruelingrace on the calendar and puts an enormous strain on the most complex piece of equipment ofall: the human body. Jenson Button in the gym talking fitness.Formula 1 drivers are considered among the fittest and most highly conditioned athletesin sport, and their physical training reflects this. Intense cardiovascularworkouts are mixed with weight training. Some drivers will swim, some will runand some will cycle. And some, like Button and Nico Rosberg, will do all three by takingpart in triathlons. Button is regarded as one of the fittest drivers on thegrid and has even competed in professional triathlons, with times comparable to some ofthe top competitors in that sport. Last August, Button hosted his very own triathlon, theJenson Button Trust Triathlon, to raise money for charity. “It’s a great wayto get away from all the stresses of the world and work, and it’s what I do torelax, which sounds crazy, but it’s very peaceful,” he says. RedBull’s Mark Webber also has his own endurance event, the Tasmania Challenge, whichconsists of a five-day event consisting of mountain biking, kayaking and trekking across350 kilometers of challenging terrain. These drivers certainly take their fitnessseriously, and on the morning of the Singapore Grand Prix, when many drivers were affordedthe rare luxury of a lie-in before the evening’s race, 43-year-old MichaelSchumacher was pounding away on the treadmill in his hotel gym before breakfast. Perhapshe should have stayed in bed a little longer, as his reactions seemed a little slow laterin the day, when he ploughed into the back of Jean-Eric Vergne’s Toro Rosso. That brings us nicely onto the mental aspect of the sport. In Singapore, not onlydo drivers have to concentrate in negotiating no fewer than 23 corners a lap and changegear 71 times a lap for 61 laps, but they also have to keep in constant contact with theirpit crew over the radio, be aware of other cars and make miniscule adjustments to theirbrake balance and engine settings. They must also decide when to use their KERS (KineticEnergy Recovery System) and open the DRS (Drag Reduction System) for overtakingopportunities -- a lot to think about when driving at speeds of up to 180 mph! As a result, some drivers will employ sports psychologists tohelp them learn techniques like visualizing the perfect lap, shutting out outsidedistractions and breathing exercises. The counterclockwise nature of the Marina Baycircuit makes it tough on a driver’s neck muscles, so weight training is alsoimportant. Most of the circuits on the calendar are clockwise, so a driver’s neckmuscles are naturally accustomed to this. Drivers will encounter up to 3.5g of corneringforce, and the weight of the helmet adds to the load the neck muscles have to cope with.Of course, these unusual loadings cannot easily be replicated by normal gymequipment, and some drivers will use specially designed rigs, such as helmets with clipsattached to heavy weights on pulley systems to keep the muscles strong during the offseason. Even so, you will sometimes see drivers resting their helmets on the side of thecockpit at times during the race, especially at Interlagos, to alleviate the strain on theleft side of their necks. It’s not only the Formula 1 car that runs oncomplex fuel. Diet is also extremely important for keeping a driver at his optimum weight-- the lighter the better. As a result, a lot of chicken and oily fish will be consumedbetween races to aid weightloss. On a race weekend, the onus is on carbohydrates, such as brown rice and pasta,which are great sources of slow release energy and will keep a driver going through a longrace such as Singapore. Protein is also important, especially after an intense race, as itacts as a recovery source for muscle. And because drivers will sweat out up tothree kilograms of their own body weight in the extreme heat and humidity, drivers take inlarge quantities of water and energy drinks containing electrolytes and salts before,during and after the race. Button seemed to have gotten his preparations spot on forSingapore, and as he crossed the finish line only nine seconds behind race winner SebastianVettel. His heart rate rose to around 198 beats/minute -- approximately the sameas a marathon runner crossing a finish line. Little wonder, then, that Button considershis triathlons relaxing and peaceful in comparison. Continue Reading

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