Bahrain: first fysical test

The Bahraini GP, immediately followed by the Malaysian event, will be a tough test for the drivers’ physical conditioning. They have been working intensively over the winter, and not for nothing: in hot conditions, a driver can lose up to 3.5l of water and 4% of their body mass. That means they need to properly hydrate during the race – if they don’t, they lose concentration and can make mistakes, particularly at the end of the race.

However, heat isn’t the only problem they have to tackle. In Bahrain, three braking zones will subject the drivers to nearly 5G in longitudinal acceleration. On each one, the brakes – which are not power-assisted – will need to be pressed with a pressure of 80kg! The lateral forces in high-speed corners can rise up to 4G if the softest tyres are used. This puts the neck muscles under serious strain, and when preparing for that challenge, nothing can beat driving: that’s why the thousands of winter kilometres will have been so important. It helps keep heart rates under control too – at key moments of the race, like the start or when overtaking, a driver’s heart-rate can hit 200 beats per minute. The better the physical condition, the easier it is for the drivers to keep this in check.

In order to eliminate all possible risks, the Renault F1 Team drivers have been training all winter. Cardio-vascular exercises, muscle development programmes and special diets have been followed. “You have to control how you live, to make sure you are in the best possible condition for the season,” explains Giancarlo Fisichella. “You have to keep training regularly. Even here in Bahrain, Fernando and I have continued exercising to avoid having any problems in the race. A tenth of a second can be the difference between winning and losing, and getting tired could compromise all the team’s efforts. You just can’t afford to do it, and that‘s why we have been working with our trainers, Edoardo and Fabrizio, all winter!”