Driver Fitness

[peteconnors]

OK, so we all know that F1 drivers are pretty fit, but I want to know just what sort of a fitness schedule they have in order to obtain their levels of fitness. Anyone know?

[bacon sandwich]

Would have thought The Man Webber has got to be the best person to answer this one!

[Jalt]

a lot of the driver's seem to say the same thing...cycling/ triathlon/ they all like bikes/ kayaking....

and they all seem to like pasta and water...

[TeddyG]

I think Pablo likes motorcycles and cheeseburgers!

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by TeddyG

I think Pablo likes motorcycles and cheeseburgers!

I knew there was one of these threads out there somewhere. I watched the Brazilian GP (again) last night, but for the first time saw the podium celebrations. Fernando and Kimi looked totally knackard, Juan Pablo looked totally fresh, not bad for someone who lives on cheeseburgers

[JeremySmith]

Most of these guys work with personal fitness trainers I would think. DC looks like he does a fair amount of weight training, bike riding and hill climbing.

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by Mr V

I knew there was one of these threads out there somewhere. I watched the Brazilian GP (again) last night, but for the first time saw the podium celebrations. Fernando and Kimi looked totally knackard, Juan Pablo looked totally fresh, not bad for someone who lives on cheeseburgers

And after that they all went to the best "Churrascaria" (Grill or Barbecue restaurant-if you know what I mean) from this side of the planet, and had all that they could get for at least 3 hours. If you ever went to a brazilian barbecue, you get the idea on how much calories they had consumed...

[Armco Bender]

1970's drivers had the best fitness schedule...chasing wimmin,smoking and drinking in no particular order.Seemed to work for them

[BootsOntheSide]

James Hunt would be nowhere by the end of a race these days. There's no way a driver with his lifestyle could remain physically and mentally at top performance in a current race. But it's a good point from V that a lot of people underestimate JPM's true fitness level, and it's very rare for him to seem exhausted after a race. Keke Rosberg was the same - a fairly stocky guy who came from a naturally cold country, but he could handle hot races better than anyone at the time.

[Hein]

MS is also still one of the fittest drivers out there. And if I remember correctly it was only after he came into the sport that fitnes became such a "issue".

Even the Ferrari mechanics had to be fit.

Read it in a book somewhere....

[NO1SPECIAL]

Is Colombia cold then? I always had the opposite impression. And BTW, i'm a bit fed up with this cheeseburger rubbish too. By any chance did it start when one of his detractors saw him eating a burger once and happened to notice he doesn't have the body of a heroin addict?

[N I Tram]

JPM's very good in the wet though, and I'm sure it rarely rains in Columbia. I agree that JPM's physical and intellectual characteristics are under-appreciated - he makes less mistakes under pressure than Kimi.

Mark Webber does a lot of triathlons and marathons, and I'm sure some of the other drivers do. Certainly the physical demands of F1 are greater than any other form of motor racing, even though other events are longer (Le Mans is a challenge in its own right of course), and extensive working out is required by most drivers to get anywhere near the limit.

[joe rossi]

I remember an article a few years ago about Webber riding his bike from John o'groats to lands end...what with that, and "warm exhausts" he must be used to pains in the butt!

[Louis B.]

It is very far in my fading memory but there used to be, many years ago on TV (it was broadcasted on CBC here in Canada), an "all star" competition between the best of their respective disciplins in order to determine who was the overall best athlete. It was well before "iron man" competitions but it also included swiming, cycling and weight lifting amongst other competitions I don't remember. The show featured, amongst many others, hockey player Wayne Gretzky.

Jody Sheckter (IIRC) won the overall competion one year. I recall this because local sports journalists found it funny that someone sitting in a car would be the world's best athlete.

[EHS]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

James Hunt would be nowhere by the end of a race these days. There's no way a driver with his lifestyle could remain physically and mentally at top performance in a current race...

Racing long is not the same as racing well.

[SpawnyWhippet]

Originally Posted by Louis B.

It is very far in my fading memory but there used to be, many years ago on TV (it was broadcasted on CBC here in Canada), an "all star" competition between the best of their respective disciplins in order to determine who was the overall best athlete. It was well before "iron man" competitions but it also included swiming, cycling and weight lifting amongst other competitions I don't remember. The show featured, amongst many others, hockey player Wayne Gretzky.

Jody Sheckter (IIRC) won the overall competion one year. I recall this because local sports journalists found it funny that someone sitting in a car would be the world's best athlete.

And that was BEFORE the days of mega-fitness!

[mac]

Webber did an extreme trek through the wilds of Tasmania for charity a couple of years ago. Lasted about a week and involved some pretty amazing footage. He had ironmen and other elite sportspeople with him - and none of them were doing it easy.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by NO1SPECIAL

Is Colombia cold then? I always had the opposite impression.

"The average temperature is around 14.4° C (58° F) all year round dropping to about 9° C at night and rising to around 18° C and higher when sunny."
http://www.bogota-dc.com/clima/bog-wea.htm


PS: Sounds cold to me. Panama 31°C! That´s hot!

[NO1SPECIAL]

yep, sounds cold to me too, at least by an aussie's standards anyway. thanks