| Whilst it is certainly true that anyone you can | | | | performing at the top of your game over one lap |
| physically fit into the car can drive one, the reality | | | | like in qualifying; it's about performing at the top |
| is that Formula One drivers are a special breed. | | | | of your game for every single lap of a Grand Prix |
| Although they vary in physical size and shape, | | | | distance. Most races last about an hour and a half |
| they all have the following important qualities that | | | | or more and during that time there's no let up -- |
| allow them to compete at the top level. | | | | except perhaps a few seconds to catch your |
| Physical Strength and Dexterity | | | | breath during a pit stop or on the pit straight. |
| Formula One cars are demanding to drive at the | | | | Drivers have to cope with the pressure of racing, |
| limit. The massive G-forces experienced during | | | | avoid accidents, keep up to date with team |
| cornering and under braking, as well as the | | | | strategy, and be able to endure the bumps, |
| incredible heat inside the cockpits, mean that | | | | bangs, and the heat over this entire distance. This |
| drivers have to be very strong, particularly their | | | | pressure is so intense that most drivers lose |
| neck muscles. | | | | about 3kg of bodyweight through sweat in a |
| Concentration | | | | normal Grand Prix. |
| Racing drivers are well aware that at 200 mph | | | | Consistency |
| they cannot hesitate for a split second if they are | | | | Being able to perform consistently at the top of |
| to avoid crashing. Formula One stars have to | | | | their game without making costly mistakes. If you |
| maintain complete concentration for almost two | | | | make a mistake pulling out of a junction in your |
| hours, which pushes their minds to the limit. They | | | | road car at best you stall the car or, worse, |
| have to look out for changing track conditions, | | | | cause an accident. Racing drivers can't afford to |
| they have to feel the changing characteristics of | | | | make such mistakes and they have to get every |
| their cars and they have to look out for warning | | | | single aspect of their job right when they're |
| flags, pit signals and their rivals. | | | | driving at the limit. |
| Quick Reaction Times | | | | Although modern grand prix cars have |
| When you learn to drive a road car one of the | | | | semi-automatic gearboxes and computer controls |
| first lessons any driving instructor teaches you is | | | | to make stalling a car more difficult, drivers still |
| to keep a safe distance from the car in front. | | | | have to ensure that every time they turn the |
| This distance allows you enough reaction time to | | | | wheel or step on a pedal, they do so at exactly |
| get out of trouble if an accident occurs or | | | | the right moment. They can't afford to brake 10 |
| somebody brakes heavily. Formula One drivers | | | | metres too late or hit the accelerator pedal when |
| have to throw that rule straight out of the | | | | they were meant to hit the brakes. The result |
| window every time they climb into their cars. In | | | | may not just be a harmless spin; it could be a |
| the fight for victory they have to drive right | | | | crash that puts them out of the race or even |
| behind their rivals' cars at huge speed, and if it's | | | | costs them the World Championship. Just as the |
| raining with next to no visibility. If a problem | | | | driver expects the team to never get it wrong |
| occurs ahead of them -- like a spinning car or a | | | | when they prepare his car, the team has the |
| piece of debris on the track -- they have to rely | | | | same expectations of the driver. If the driver |
| on their super-quick reaction times to get them | | | | makes a mistake that puts him out of the race |
| out of trouble. | | | | he can expect a tough time when he gets back |
| Endurance | | | | to the pits. |
| Being a good Formula One driver is not just about | | | | |