Generally I am not a big sports fan but one sport I can not get enough of is Formula 1.
Formula 1, also known as Formula One and F1 is the highest class of single-seat auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). The Formula 1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, held throughout the world both on purpose-built circuits and public roads with Monaco in Monte Carlo being the shining example. The results of each race are evaluated using a points system which determines two annual World Championships, one for the best driver and one for the constructors such as Red Bull, Mercedes or my favorite- Ferrari.
Formula 1 racing cars are the fastest road course racing cars in the world. (And some of the prettiest. Especially the Ferraris and their Ferrari red color.) Formula 1 cars race at speeds of up to 330 km/h (210 mph) with engines currently limited in performance to a maximum of 15,000 RPM. The cars are capable of lateral acceleration in excess of 5 Gs in corners. For this reason Formula 1 safety is a huge consideration.
Even though Europe is the traditional base of Formula 1, and hosts about half of each year’s races, the sport has expanded significantly in recent years and a number of Grands Prix are held on other continents including Mexico, Russia, Asia and the United States. Grand Prix racing began in 1906 and became the most popular type of auto racing in the second half of the twentieth century. The Formula One Group is the legal holder of the commercial rights with annual spending totaling billions of US dollars. Formula 1 drivers are some of the highest paid athletes in the world.
The cars are so amazing and the way these Formula 1 drivers handle them is incredible. Some say these drivers are just driving cars and question how hard it can be. I argue these drivers are some of the most fit athletes in sport. Recently a driver survived, and in fact walked away from, a crash measured at over 30 Gs. The extreme heat found in a Formula One cockpit, especially at the hotter races of the series, also puts vast strain on the body whereas drivers can sweat off anything up to 3kg of their body weight during the course of a race. As far as nutrition, most Formula 1 drivers diet in much the same way as track and field athletes do. During race weekends most drivers can be seen eating pasta or other carbohydrate rich foods to provide energy and give the all-important stamina for the race itself. The physical endurance required to drive a Formula One race is not dissimilar to that required to run a marathon.
Along with the drivers and their abilities plus the cars themselves, strategy plays a big role in Formula 1 racing. Team managers analyze data such as weather conditions, the likelihood of overtaking on a particular track, the length of the pit lane and even the chances of an accident all come into play when deciding strategy.
Check out this video of David Coulthard doing donuts in a Red Bull F1 car on Burj Al Arab helipad.
Formula 1 is super exciting and always makes me smile.
(You know how they make coloring books for adults now? Someone should make a Formula 1 coloring book. I would buy one or two and a new pack of Crayola crayons and get off to the races!)
Follow Formula 1 racing at Planet F1 and Formula1.com and BBC.com.
Do you like Formula 1? Have you been to a race? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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I love F1. We used to host one in Adelaide until those damn Vics pilfered it from us. I remember the first time I went to the Adelaide Grand Prix. The atmosphere was unbelievable as were the cars.
Last year I went to the one in Melbourne. It was OK but we did it a whole lot better. 😉
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I drove at Adelaide many years ago…
…on my Formula 1 racing simulator computer game. LOL
I have yet to go to an F1 race. I will for sure be going to Los Angeles to see Formula E racing next year!
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You will love it when you go Troy. If I’m ever in the States again I wouldn’t mind seeing a Nascar Race. I reckon it would be pretty different than the Adelaide Clipsal. The only similarity being they seem to both run hi capacity V8 engines.
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Thing with Nascar is at least you get to see all the cars all the time.
Troy recently posted…Sexual double standards
Another difference is the drivers. You will never see an overweight driver in Formula 1. The F1 drivers are very fit unlike many drivers in NASCAR and other race leagues. Just look at this picture of Tony Stewart as an example. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/tony-stewart-will-not-race-at-watkins-glen–regan-smith-to-drive-the-no–14-143704974.html
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Yeah, I like the fact that you always see the race cars in the NASCAR.
I also agree that you don’t get fat F1 drivers. Sure they have to be super fit but they also can’t afford to put on too much weight otherwise they won’t fit into their cars 😉
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I saw the Adelaide Grand prix in ’92… or was it ’91 race day was a wash out but the rest of the weekend was good. Of course for me it will always be Silverstone for race of the year!
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Everyone seems to agree that Silverstone is THE race for purists where as Monaco is the race for like ‘high society’ and opulence.
I would love to go to Silverstone…or Monaco…or China or….
Thanks for visiting and for your comment Simon.
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this season i lost all interest in fomular 1 just a blah season that all
You are not the only one. A lot of people, drivers included, are complaining. Should be interesting to see what happens in the off season.
I am also looking forward to Formula-E starting up soon.
Thanks for stopping by and your comments. See you soon!
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I’ve never put a lot of thought into the physicality that goes into formula 1 racing, but this article was great food for thought.
Yes indeed. Those drivers have to stay super fit.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment.
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The steering wheels are insane. Modern day F1 drivers are like fighter pilots with all the knobs and controls they need to change lap to lap.
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Yes Mark. It is absolutely insane. When I watch Formula 1 racing on the television sometimes they share the communications between the pit and the drivers and many of the drivers will tell the pit to quit talking so they can concentrate. It all seems very complicated to me and very fast!
Thanks for speeding by Mark. Hope to hear from you again soon
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I just love Formula 1… but I’m Portuguese, so you probably know I’m going to say…
… that I love and miss Ayrton Senna the most.
T.T
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Yes, that was a sad day for sure. Yet he did indeed open the door and inspire so many other drivers. Heck , we know have 19 year olds winning.
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wow this is so good. very informative. thank you for sharing
I was there; loved it! Any chance I can have your paddock pass from the race??
Would make a great souvenir!
If I had it I would be happy to give it to you.
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