How Bridgestone's F1 drivers keep fit

"The improvement on last year is pretty amazing," says Ferrari star Felipe Massa. "We are nearly 9mph faster through some corners, which is very impressive. Most of that speed comes from the grip generated by the Bridgestone tyres, which are softer and grippier than last year, but the aerodynamics are better too. You really feel the difference in the cockpit."

The increased cornering speeds make the cars much more physical to drive. The lateral loads peak at 4g through fast corners which, when combined with deceleration forces of 5.5g under heavy braking, makes physical preparation a vital part of a driver's job description.

The best form of training takes place on the track because the drivers agree that no gym exercise accurately replicates the harsh conditions experienced in the car. But there is plenty that the drivers can do to improve their stamina and strength away from the racetrack.

Stamina is improved by increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood (aerobic fitness). It can be most easily achieved by running, cycling or swimming. Strength comes from gym work: press-ups, sit-ups, circuit training and weights.

The neck takes the biggest upper body pummeling because it's not strapped into the car by a six-point harness. Each driver develops his own system to strengthen the neck, but they are all variations on the same theme. A pulley system of weights is attached to an old helmet and they lift them in reps of 10. One neck session will usually last 1.5 hours, which is the length of a grand prix.

"The forces are certainly higher this year," says Williams star Mark Webber. "With the re-introduction of tyre changes this year, we are doing qualifying laps every lap. It's quite tough, but it's our job to be prepared and fitness is one aspect of the job that I enjoy."

Heat is another factor that drivers have to prepare for because cockpit temperatures can exceed 50 degrees Celsius at some races. During the Malaysian Grand Prix, for example, the drivers lose 3.5 litres of water in sweat, which equates to 8.5 percent of their body's water content. To put that into perspective, a water loss of just one percent can affect a person's concentration levels.

To counteract dehydration, every F1 car carries a water bottle, which holds up to one litre of hypotonic fluid (a mineral solution). It is connected to the driver via a straw and is activated by a pump. Drivers also try to increase the volume of water in their bodies by drinking lots of water in the build-up to a race.

"Physical preparation is all very well," says Toyota's doctor, Riccardo Ceccarelli. "But that is only half of what a driver needs. The other half is the brain: there is no let-up for the brain during a race, which is what makes F1 the most demanding sport in the world."

Each driver's mental preparation varies, with some needing to sleep a couple of hours before a race. But Ceccarelli encourages Toyota drivers Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli to treat their brains like they would their muscles: warm them up prior to using them; let them rest at the right times too.

"Anyone with the right level of discipline can get himself physically prepared to drive an F1 car," says Ceccarelli. "The difference between the great and the good is in the mind."

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