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| Formula for fitness | |
| Aabhas Sharma / New Delhi March 22, 2009, 0:21 IST | |
The fitness regime of F1 drivers is extremely arduous.
A lot of people think that the job of a Formula One driver is one of the best in the world. After all, what more can you ask for than driving the fastest automobiles on the planet and getting handsomely paid for it. What many people dont know is that it is one of the hardest jobs as well, and by that we mean physically demanding. As the new season of F1 is just round the corner, we thought of looking at what kind of training F1 drivers go through in order to remain in shape.
The neck is a driver's most important muscle. During training, large elastic bands are used to simulate the demands of high G-force. Rowing and weightlifting are two of the most common forms of exercise that drivers do in order to build strong muscles. There is no other sport which places as much load on the neck muscles. Imagine being in the cockpit of a car for over two hours with a crash helmet that weighs about seven kilos. While hurling corners, the G-force makes the heads of the drivers weigh five times more.
A study conducted by sports medicine experts had revealed that the heart rate of a racing driver can go up to 198 beat per minute, which is almost as same as that of a marathon runner trying to cross the finish line. Cardiovascular exercises like jogging, cycling and rollerblading are some of the few that most drivers undertake.
Apart from the neck, upper body strength is extremely important for a F1 driver. But heavy weights are strictly avoided by most drivers as they are looking for strength rather than muscles.
Most pedals in the F1 cars are pretty stiff and the braking power is generated through the force of the legs. Building up leg strength is an integral part of a drivers fitness regime. It doesn’t appear to be a physically demanding sport like rugby, but the fitness levels have to be that of a marathon runner. It could be one of the best jobs in the world but one that requires enormous amount of fitness levels.
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