| As we enter another season of Formula One | | | | should be able to get out in no more than five |
| racing, many fans' hopes rest on Lewis Hamilton, | | | | seconds without having to remove anything |
| Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen and other F1 | | | | except the steering wheel. |
| superstars; but let's not forget that it takes a lot | | | | Many might be surprised to hear that F1 drivers |
| more than just a good driver to win a F1 race. | | | | are some of the most highly conditioned athletes |
| In order to be successful in the highly competitive | | | | on earth. You might think that little physical |
| world of F1 motorsport, every technical | | | | prowess would be needed for a sport that |
| advantage helps - no matter how small. Firstly, if | | | | involves sitting in a car; but on the contrary, a |
| you take a look at an F1 car, you'll find a huge | | | | huge amount of stamina and endurance is |
| amount of technology under - and over - the | | | | required, with drivers having to endure high |
| bonnet, and everything from the gears to the gas | | | | G-force cornering which can cause extreme |
| pedal has been meticulously designed and refined | | | | stress to their bodies. Due to the hot climates |
| to create a lighter, smoother, faster car. | | | | that many of the F1 races take place in, such as |
| Meanwhile, ongoing testing of the car's | | | | Australia, Singapore and China, the drivers must |
| aerodynamic properties continues to create faster | | | | be able to handle high temperatures for long |
| vehicles that stick to the road, and every single | | | | periods, and they can lose as much as 3 litres of |
| surface of a modern F1 car, from the tyres to | | | | sweat during a race! |
| the driver's helmet, has its aerodynamic qualities | | | | And let's not forget the other members of the |
| considered and researched. | | | | team that are so vital to success in this fast |
| At the centre of F1 is the safety of the drivers, | | | | paced motorsport. Drivers may get most of the |
| the pit teams and the fans. The heart of each car | | | | attention, but F1 is a team sport, and the speed |
| is built with an extremely strong structure | | | | and precision at which a team's pit-crew can |
| nicknamed "the tub". This is the driver's cockpit | | | | refuel and change a tyre or make more serious |
| and survival cell, and is constructed mainly from | | | | repairs will have a significant impact on the driver's |
| carbon fibre. The fact that so many drivers have | | | | lap time and position in the race; a well oiled |
| walked away (or at least been helped out of) | | | | pit-crew can perform their tasks in just seconds. |
| some seemingly catastrophic accidents is | | | | So without taking anything away from the drivers |
| testament to the highly successful protective | | | | of F1, we can see that it really is a team sport, |
| construction on the survival cell. The cars are also | | | | and without all the research, technology and hard |
| designed so that drivers can get out of the | | | | work from their team mates, those wining drivers |
| cockpits in the least possible time to avoid burns. | | | | wouldn't be able to spray each other with |
| The current regulations state that all drivers | | | | champagne on the podium. |