Carlos Sainz, a guest on Spanish TV, talks about the importance of the sacrifices and training that Formula 1 drivers have to undergo, with their necks subjected to enormous stress.
To be a competitive driver in Formula 1, work on the track is not enough, but physical preparation and weight control are also essential, which can make the difference between winning or losing a race. Carlos Sainzguest of the Spanish show El Horminguerosaid the rigid diet to which he must subject himself and the stress to which his body is subjected during competitions.
The importance of weight for Formula 1 drivers
Sainz explained how it is very important to keep one’s weight under control. “I have to stay within a weight limit of 80 kilos including overalls, helmet and everything else, so I weigh about 72 kilos. If with overalls, helmet and everything I weighed 77 kilos instead of 80we would have three extra kilos that we can distribute on the car as we want“. the Ferrari driver also highlighted how a few kilos can make the difference between winning or losing a race. “Three kilos in one lap are worth a tenth of a second per lap. In qualifying it could mean one or two positions. AND in a 60-lap race that’s six seconds at the end of the race. I give up on life for six seconds“.
On his relationship with food, Sainz explained how he is a lover of “Burgers, pizza and pasta, in that order. So I try to eat only one hamburger a week“, but when asked by the host if he could do it, the Ferrari driver laughingly replied that “I won’t say that. Yesterday I went out with friends and we went to a hamburger place, and I ate two and a half, but I cycled 100 kilometers and ate little so I could eat more burgersbecause I know I won’t be able to eat anything like that for the next three weeks.”.
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The important dimensions of Carlos Sainz’s neck
The part most subjected to stress for all Formula 1 drivers is the neck, which inevitably ends up taking on larger dimensions than normal. “My friends say I have the neck larger than the head” Sainz said amusedly, explaining why this part of the body is subjected to such strong stress. “We are practically tied completely to the car and our neck is the only free part. So receives all the g forces and it is the part that strengthens the most over the years. You want to keep your neck in shape, but it’s very difficult because it is a very complicated muscle to train“.
