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Here Is Why F1 Drivers Are Weighed – One Stop Racing
Have you ever been to the results of an F1 race and witnessed all the drivers lining up at the scales after the race? This isn’t just something done to show interest, but is actually necessary for a variety of reasons.
F1 drivers are weighed following every race to fulfill two purposes. One is to know the amount of weight they shed during the race. The second is to ensure sure that their vehicles and drivers do not fall below the weight limit set in the rules.
This article will explain why F1 cars and drivers are weighed following each race. The article will also look at why weight is important in F1 as well as the weight limits in F1 as well as the average weight of drivers, as well as how many pounds a driver could lose in a single race. Therefore, continue reading to learn everything you need to know about the weight of drivers in F1. There is no need to weigh in order to understand the weight of a driver So let’s get the pedal on the gas.
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Why Are F1 Drivers Weighed?
F1 drivers are assessed to determine medical and technical reasons. These are described below.
- Medical Reasons:It is essential to determine exactly how much weight a driver is losing following the race, so that appropriate steps can be taken following the race. The average loss for drivers is 2 and 4 kg in a race and we’ll discuss this in greater detail later within the post.
It’s a lot of weight loss in just two hours and the majority of it is the result of sweat. Thus, personnel in the medical and physical training must be aware of this fact to aid drivers in picking up the weight back up.
It is also crucial to be aware of the weight of a driver because when they’ve shed more weight than they normally do in a race the sessions of training the following week must take into consideration that , and could be less intensive.
- Technical Reasons:F1 cars with the driver on board must weigh a minimum of 764 kg (1684lbs). The drivers and cars are weighed following the race to ensure they do not drop below that weight in the course. F1 cars have become heavier in recent times, mostly due to the improvement of safety equipment. It is therefore crucial to make sure teams do not skimp on vital safety features in order in order to make their cars lighter.
Drivers are weighted separately from their cars since they are able to be weighed more quickly than the car’s weighing. This means that they are able to swiftly start the celebrations after races as well as interviews and other obligations.
Does Weight Matter in F1?
The weight is one of the most important aspects of F1 and the connection between speed and weight is pretty straightforward. Imagine you have to run 100 meters on an track. If you’re running with a backpack filled with bricks, you’ll be significantly slower than if you were running the same distance with the backpack full of bricks.
With F1 it’s exactly the same. The more heavy the car is and the heavier it is, the more the engine can push ahead. It is crucial to minimize any extra weight on the vehicle, which can affect the lap time of the car. In a competition such as F1 where drivers may be separated by only a few milliseconds, it’s essential to ensure that the car’s speed is as high as is possible.
However, the weight of the driver (within the reason) is no longer an issue due to the new regulations that will be introduced in 2019. Find out more about these rules and the reasons they are advantageous to the sport.
What Are The Rules Regarding Driver Weight In F1?
As per the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) which oversees Formula 1 and creates the rules for the sport according to the rules of Formula 1, the minimum weight for drivers and seats is (176lbs). If a driver’s weight is less than that weight additional weight, in ballasts must be added onto the cockpit in order to raise the weight to 80kg.
This law was put into place in the year 2019 to alleviate the disadvantage of having large, heavy drivers. Prior to the implementation of these rules the small and light driver had the greatest benefit.
For instance Alpha Tauri’s new driver in 2021 Yuki Tsunoda only weighs in at 54kg (119lbs) and Kimi Raikkonen weighs 70kg (154lbs). It’s a difference that is more than fifteen kilograms (33lbs).
Prior to this, it could have been a significant benefit for Alpha Tauri simply due to being able to claim that the engine is smaller and, therefore, lighter. But the new rules ensure that this won’t be an issue and makes the playing field.
This change in the rules was particularly crucial for larger drivers who needed to eat a much less in order to keep the weight of a competitor. In the end, they were not in the best physical condition due to not eating enough.
In addition several drivers were in favor of the new regulations since they weren’t being pressured to maintain their weight as as they were in the past. Valtteri Bottas, a Mercedes driver, said, “I think the regulation is great, especially for taller drivers. It makes life simpler.” He added, “Many drivers had to be below our weight and it’s extremely easy to fall ill or get sick. The first time in several years that I didn’t have any illness or flu. .”
Average Weight Of Formula 1 Drivers
The weight statistics for the majority of Formula 1 drivers are not readily accessible. This year, drivers that have been from F2 have accurate weight statistics because their weights are available via the F2 website. However their weight for F1 drivers isn’t published by the F1 website and therefore the figures that are publically available are not always reliable.
The fastest driver in 2021 is most likely Yuki Tsunoda with a weight of 54kg. The driver with the most weight appears to be Lewis Hamilton, who is 73kg. The majority of F1 drivers weigh between 65-70kg (143-154lbs) however some of the smaller drivers weigh a little less.
It is important that drivers stay within that weight, because after you add the racesuit (which is heavy as it’s fireproof) and helmet (about 1.2kg) as well as the seat, drivers do not need to be weighing more than 80kg. So, it is crucial that drivers weigh between 75 and 76kg in order to avoid add unnecessary weight.
How Much Weight Do F1 Drivers Loose During A Race?
Formula 1 is a physically demanding sport for drivers. Due to the extreme forces that the drivers endure during racing, the force on their bodies is huge. Similar to any other sport that requires extreme physical effort, athletes sweat heavily.
In contrast to other sports, where athletes wear a t-shirt and shorts and are constructed from lightweight materials, F1 drivers wear thick and heavy race suits that are fireproof and helmets. The race-suits weigh in at least 1kg. drivers also wear undershirts, underwear and a balaclava constructed of the same material that is fireproof. In addition the temperature in the cabin inside the F1 car can exceed 50 degrees Celsius (122degF).
This is a sign of how hot and exhausting for drivers when they participate in the course of an F1 race. This is why drivers usually lose around 2-3kg during a race. It can go up to 4kg when conditions are hotter for instance, in race events held in Singapore or Malaysia. This is because the exterior temperature is higher than other places and the cockpit temperature increases.
Conclusion
The weight of a car is crucial in F1. The excess weight of the car, however too much weight could compromise the safety of drivers. It is essential to find the perfect equilibrium between the speed of your car and the safety features required to safeguard drivers.
It is vital to ensure these rules are observed which is the reason F1 racers and vehicles are checked after each race.
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