Formula One's official medical car, the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG S. It carries F1's head physician, Dr. Ian Roberts, in case of a crash. Mercedes-Benz
Formula One holds races all over the world, in all kinds of climates. From the rainy summer days at Silverstone to the autumn heat in Texas, drivers, mechanics and cars must all be prepared for whatever mother nature might throw at them.
One of the worst races, from a weather perspective, takes place this weekend at Sepang Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. With temperatures expected to touch 90 degrees Fahrenheit along with 80 percent humidity, both man and machine will be tested. Oh, and then there’s incredible tropical rainstorms that can bubble up out of nowhere.
The near-daily rainstorms wash away rubber that gets laid down on the circuit, meaning track evolution—the movement of the racing line and optimal grip as the race progresses—is difficult to predict. It also means the asphalt is exceptionally rough because the rubber can’t lay down and smooth it out, and the course, with fast corners and a bumpy surface, puts significant strain on the Pirelli tires. That’s why cars will be equipped with the two sturdiest tire compounds that Pirelli offers Formula One teams, the white-labeled Medium and the orange-labeled Hard. Aside from tropical Singapore, which is held at night because of the hot temperatures, Malaysia is generally the hottest and one of the toughest races on tires.
As tough as the course is on tires, it’s even tougher on drivers. The exterior heat and humidity are compounded by the cars themselves, with drivers sitting right against the hot engine, and full-body, flame-resistant Nomex racing suits aren’t exactly suited to keeping cool.
During the 193-mile race, each man behind the wheel will burn as many as 1,500 calories and lose three quarts of body fluid. In the days leading up this race, drivers drink as much water as possible, and will work to keep cool and hydrated. In competition, their heart rates will reach 170 beats per minute. To keep sweat out of his eyes, Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg says he wears a ladies sanitary napkin on his forehead. Last year, during pre-race ceremonies, several drivers wore special cooling vests to keep their core temperature down in the high heat.
All of which makes Malaysia an especially tough place to come back to racing for McLaren’s Fernando Alonso, a former world champion who missed the season’s first race in Australia because of a concussion suffered following a crash during preseason testing.
Keeping drivers safe is why the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), F1’s sanctioning body, lays down piles of rules governing the medical tests drivers must pass before getting behind the wheel.
Like in football, a single concussion for a driver is not a huge deal. The danger comes from repeated concussions, a non-trivial risk whenever one is in a race car as even minor crashes (which aren’t infrequent) could cause significant g-loads to the brain. Even when they stay on the track, drivers deal with signifiant lateral and longitudinal g-forces, and prolonged stress to the heart and breathing systems. Malaysia adds major heat and humidity. To keep drivers safe, there are numerous medical checks and tests all must pass before they can jump in the cockpit.
There are few things the FIA loves more than rules. That’s why there’s a 24-page document outlining what drivers need to do to get international racing licenses. During an annual medical examination, drivers fill out a questionnaire covering family and personal medical history, any diseases or infections, medications. They undergo cardiovascular and musculoskeletal examinations.
Some conditions, like epilepsy or blindness in one eye are, unsurprisingly, grounds for automatic disqualification. Drivers must be able to distinguish the color of flags being waved during competition, and stereoscopic vision—depth perception—must be functional. Any amputated fingers must not impair gripping function in either hand. And on and on and on.
Before a race, drivers must perform an “extraction test“, where they unbelt themselves, get out of the car safely, and reinstall the steering wheel (so the car can be steered by rescue workers), all within ten seconds. Any driver who fails the test, like Valtteri Bottas did in earlier this month in Australia, is forbidden from racing. Drivers must be able to get themselves out of the car quickly if something were to go wrong.
It all sounds like a bit much, but it’s more reasonable when you consider just how tough the sport is on drivers. Winning in Formula 1 requires getting to the finish line, and that’s never guaranteed. Just as mechanics must ensure the car is reliable and in good working order, the drivers need the same treatment.
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