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By Simon Ang and Ching Choon Hiong
Compared to other professional athletes, F1 drivers appear to have it easy. They remain seated throughout the race and we don't see muscles rippling or profuse perspiring.
But it takes a special breed of athlete to compete at speeds of up to 300kmh for two hours. Infographics journalists SIMON ANG and CHNG CHOON HIONG put on their X-ray glasses to see what an F1 driver goes through.
Brain
At 300kmh, the brain floods the body with fight-or-flight hormones like adrenalin and cortisol. When Patrick Jacobs trained racer Gil De Ferran, he coached the 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner to resist that primal instinct with controlled breathing techniques borrowed from prana yoga.
Eyes
While constantly scanning for obstacles and dismissing distractions (like advertising hoardings along the tracks), drivers have to spot openings to overtake the competitors. Drivers hone their 20/20 vision with video games like Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo. This could explain why most drivers are avid gamers.
Head & Neck
At 5kg, the driver's head weighs about as much as a bowling ball. At 5Gs of force (which would make his head weights about 25kg) a pencil-necked driver will have his head wobbling like a bobble-head doll. To strengthen neck muscles, retired seven-time F1 champ Michael Schumacher wore a weighted helmet while watching TV.
Blood Pressure
Can increase up to 50 per cent while racing. ENERGY
An F1 car generates five times the force of gravity during braking and cornering. This force saps the driver's energy quickly.
Core Muscles
Staying upright around sharp turns is one of the toughest challenges an F1 driver faces. Small drivers minimise the thrash-about by leaning back in their seats while bigger drivers rely on core muscles to hold themselves steady.
To train, drivers perform hundreds of crunches a day.
Arms
Picture yourself holding an exercise ball at arm's length for two hours. Brazilian F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi works out by gripping and twisting a 11kg weight at arm's length to simulate car's steering wheels. HEART
Studies have shown that the heart rates of drivers inside the cockpit go as high as 196 beats per minute. This may explain why F1 drivers tend to be accomplished cyclists and long- distance runners. For example, McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton keeps fit by cycling, playing squash and other high-level cardiovascular activities. Most, however, stop short of marathon-style training, which can lower the heart rate to a level where sudden movements may trigger light-headedness - a serious problem for F1 drivers careening about at high speed.
Senses
It is important for an F1 driver to maintain perfect concentration throughout the race. He should be able to feel a change as tiny as 0.5 per cent in front-rear aerodynamic balance. Throughout the race, he aims to keep his engine running within the 2,000rpm band. He can judge the pace of the car so precisely that he can repeatedly achieve consecutive laptimes - all within a range of 0.2 secs
Hands & Fingers
To have better control of the wheel, a firm grip is crucial. Imagine having to steady the steering wheel when the vehicle is going faster than a jet plane taking off. A little flick of the wrist and the car can swerve off wildly. Drivers use spring-loaded training devices or foam balls to strengthen their hands. They also focus on gripping while doing curls or bench presses. FEET
During the race, the car's floorboards can reach a temperature of 93 deg C. Even with protective footwear, drivers still have to cope with sweaty feet.
Heat
F1 drivers can sweat off up to 3kg during a race - the temperature inside the cockpit can be as hot as a summer day in the desert (45 deg C). Naturally, Singapore's cooler night race is a welcome respite from the heat. Still, it doesn't help when drivers have to don fireproof five-layered Nomex jumpsuits. To acclimatise themselves, drivers often train in sauna-like conditions. No air-conditioned gyms here. The heat does have its advantages. Drivers often have to pee in their suits - stopping for a toilet break is not an option. But the heat evaporates any incriminating evidence quickly!
Legs
Stamping the brake pedal at sharp corners can feel like pushing down on a 140kg weight. Drivers use lunges and squats to strengthen their quads - the four muscles found on the front of the thigh. For muscles at the lower back, drivers train with free weights.
This article was first published in The New Paper.
 
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