Comments on: How fit is an F1 driver? http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/04/21/how-fit-is-an-f1-driver/ F1 Fanatic - The Formula 1 Blog with F1 news, pictures, video, comment and analysis Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:25:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Vettel rules http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/04/21/how-fit-is-an-f1-driver/comment-page-3/#comment-281814 Vettel rules Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:52:01 +0000 http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?p=20255#comment-281814 When I drove a 40mph go kart my legs and arms were dead my back hurt and my neck was under a little bit of pain but imagine driving 200mph When I drove a 40mph go kart my legs and arms were dead my back hurt and my neck was under a little bit of pain but imagine driving 200mph

]]> By: Vettel rules http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/04/21/how-fit-is-an-f1-driver/comment-page-3/#comment-281812 Vettel rules Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:48:42 +0000 http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?p=20255#comment-281812 I think f1 drivers are out of this world. They have to be so fit be able to cope with the stress and then race round the track at an astonishing pace:0 I think f1 drivers are out of this world. They have to be so fit be able to cope with the stress and then race round the track at an astonishing pace:0

]]> By: Wehalle http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/04/21/how-fit-is-an-f1-driver/comment-page-2/#comment-280933 Wehalle Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:01:26 +0000 http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?p=20255#comment-280933 Is their any other sport out there other than Formula1 that leaves a sportsman less 3-4KG after the event? With Formula1 races in hot climates such as Baharain and malaysia, Formula1 Drivers are left with 3-4Kgs less their body weight after the even due to dehydration. Even after all this you have to be very fit at the end of the Formula1 racing event in order to be able to sit up in the podium and smile. Is their any other sport out there other than Formula1 that leaves a sportsman less 3-4KG after the event? With Formula1 races in hot climates such as Baharain and malaysia, Formula1 Drivers are left with 3-4Kgs less their body weight after the even due to dehydration.
Even after all this you have to be very fit at the end of the Formula1 racing event in order to be able to sit up in the podium and smile.

]]> By: Zoltan http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/04/21/how-fit-is-an-f1-driver/comment-page-2/#comment-255963 Zoltan Mon, 11 May 2009 12:46:10 +0000 http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?p=20255#comment-255963 True, Hamilton did Malaysia last year without water coz his water bottle malfunction and he lost a lot of water, Also Alonso did Bahrain this year this a Water Bottle malfunction and after he finished the race, collapsed. He has lost 6.5kg of weight (liquid) compared to the normal 2-3 kg in a race. That is extreme! True, Hamilton did Malaysia last year without water coz his water bottle malfunction and he lost a lot of water, Also Alonso did Bahrain this year this a Water Bottle malfunction and after he finished the race, collapsed. He has lost 6.5kg of weight (liquid) compared to the normal 2-3 kg in a race. That is extreme!

]]> By: F1Fan http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/04/21/how-fit-is-an-f1-driver/comment-page-2/#comment-252077 F1Fan Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:31:58 +0000 http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?p=20255#comment-252077 Alonso's neck is built like an NFL player's ! Alonso’s neck is built like an NFL player’s !

]]> By: Fred Schechter http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/04/21/how-fit-is-an-f1-driver/comment-page-2/#comment-252065 Fred Schechter Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:10:44 +0000 http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?p=20255#comment-252065 Hammy went without water in Malaysia?! WOW, I can't do without water for a silly 2 hour stint in a flogged miata, and that's with a cool suit! More than my fun analogy, I remember a great article (if anyone finds it I'd love to read it again) that detailed 2 doctors chatting between themselves. One grabbed an ekg trace for the race (90 mins of data, heart rate 200+ for most of it, I think it was a hot race) he shows it to his buddy who's eyes bug out and says "What did this patient die from?!" The other doctor cooly states, "He's sitting right over there." (points to an F1 driver sitting and reading a magazine). As for American football comparisons, the training regimes and play patterns are far too different to compare. That is a sport I did grow up and and can properly vouch for their fitness at the highest levels. They are very extreme athletes who are very fit, but due to the play pattern allowing pauses and impacts being more instantaneous and strength based (rather than endurance) they design how their bodies are shaped to cope with the punishment in a wholly different way. I do however believe that some skills players (mostly quarterbacks) could likely have chosen the F1 route, their dexterity and memory are very highly tuned (you memorize 1000 play variations) but they would have needed to start from the beginning and focus on endurance (which they have not) oh yeah, and they'd all be too big to fit (they're typically in the 6'5" 250lb range nowadays) Hammy went without water in Malaysia?! WOW, I can’t do without water for a silly 2 hour stint in a flogged miata, and that’s with a cool suit!

More than my fun analogy, I remember a great article (if anyone finds it I’d love to read it again) that detailed 2 doctors chatting between themselves. One grabbed an ekg trace for the race (90 mins of data, heart rate 200+ for most of it, I think it was a hot race) he shows it to his buddy who’s eyes bug out and says “What did this patient die from?!”

The other doctor cooly states, “He’s sitting right over there.” (points to an F1 driver sitting and reading a magazine).

As for American football comparisons, the training regimes and play patterns are far too different to compare. That is a sport I did grow up and and can properly vouch for their fitness at the highest levels. They are very extreme athletes who are very fit, but due to the play pattern allowing pauses and impacts being more instantaneous and strength based (rather than endurance) they design how their bodies are shaped to cope with the punishment in a wholly different way. I do however believe that some skills players (mostly quarterbacks) could likely have chosen the F1 route, their dexterity and memory are very highly tuned (you memorize 1000 play variations) but they would have needed to start from the beginning and focus on endurance (which they have not) oh yeah, and they’d all be too big to fit (they’re typically in the 6’5″ 250lb range nowadays)

]]> By: Matt http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/04/21/how-fit-is-an-f1-driver/comment-page-1/#comment-251967 Matt Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:00:27 +0000 http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?p=20255#comment-251967 I saw McConville driving the Honda, very interesting. Didn't David Coulthard sack a personal trainer once because the trainer wasn't fit enough to keep up with him? Despite the trainer being a green beret or something similar... I saw McConville driving the Honda, very interesting.

Didn’t David Coulthard sack a personal trainer once because the trainer wasn’t fit enough to keep up with him? Despite the trainer being a green beret or something similar…

]]> By: Matt http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/04/21/how-fit-is-an-f1-driver/comment-page-1/#comment-251961 Matt Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:38:33 +0000 http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?p=20255#comment-251961 An American football player? Ha! How much action is there in a game? Lets see them do something for 90 mins straight An American football player? Ha! How much action is there in a game? Lets see them do something for 90 mins straight

]]> By: Jay Menon http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/04/21/how-fit-is-an-f1-driver/comment-page-1/#comment-251958 Jay Menon Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:57:19 +0000 http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?p=20255#comment-251958 Psynrg: Yeah, you're right, its based on the laws of physics...but for me, if you really think about it, it's all is common sense. I'm not gloating or anything, but I hold a Master degree in Engineering, and work for one of the biggest players in the oil indusrty...and to me, throughout my studies and career...everything always boiled down to common sense. Maybe I've been stoned all this while then eh?..hahaha Psynrg:

Yeah, you’re right, its based on the laws of physics…but for me, if you really think about it, it’s all is common sense.

I’m not gloating or anything, but I hold a Master degree in Engineering, and work for one of the biggest players in the oil indusrty…and to me, throughout my studies and career…everything always boiled down to common sense.

Maybe I’ve been stoned all this while then eh?..hahaha

]]> By: pSynrg http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/04/21/how-fit-is-an-f1-driver/comment-page-2/#comment-251935 pSynrg Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:14:50 +0000 http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?p=20255#comment-251935 I think it's two 45min races. I agree MotoGP riders are also supremely skilled with similar athletic capability, and a bit mental! The most significant differences are the g-forces. MotoGP pulls maximum 1.8g's to F1's 4.5g. Imagine weighing 4.5 times your weight and operating extremely sensitive machines at speeds that are always near or on the edge of what is possible. A feat very difficult to maintain even in a decent computer sim (for the likes of me) for any length of time. F1 - It's just all so .... controlled, powerful, violent and fast! I think it’s two 45min races. I agree MotoGP riders are also supremely skilled with similar athletic capability, and a bit mental!

The most significant differences are the g-forces.
MotoGP pulls maximum 1.8g’s to F1′s 4.5g. Imagine weighing 4.5 times your weight and operating extremely sensitive machines at speeds that are always near or on the edge of what is possible.
A feat very difficult to maintain even in a decent computer sim (for the likes of me) for any length of time. F1 – It’s just all so …. controlled, powerful, violent and fast!

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