So, inordertobe a greatFormulaOnedriver, youneedtohavethecognitivecapabilitiesof a chessgrandmaster, thestrength, staminaandreactionsof a fighter, andthenyoualsohavetohavetheenduranceof a marathonrunner.
It's theseuniquesetofskillsthatwouldmakeitprettymuchimpossibleforanaveragehumantodrivean F1 car.
MynameisClaytonGreenand I usedtobe F1 performancecoachtoSirLewisHamiltonbackinthe 2010 season.
Here's a sketchoftheSilverstonecircuitthat I puttogether.
Silverstoneis a particularlyuniqueFormulaOneGrandPrix.
It's extremelyprestigious.
It's onethatthedriversfinddistinctlychallenging.
It's a wonderfulblendofhigh-speedcornersandheavybrakingzonesanditthoroughlyentertainsboththecrowdandthedriverswhenthey'reracing.
So, FormulaOnedriverslookingtogetthequickestandbestlaunchthattheypossiblycanatthestartoftherace.
Theaveragereactiontimeforan F1 driverisnormallyaround 200 milliseconds.
SprinterslikeUsainBoltareonly a fractionquicker, launchinginto a sprintroughly 160 millisecondsafterthestartingpistol.
Butyourtypicalhumanbeinglikeyouandme, wetendtobemorearound 500 to 600 milliseconds.
F1 carsaresofastthatjust a 200-millisecondheadstartgives a driver a 10-metrelead.
A personweighing 90 kilosor 200 poundswith 20% bodyfatwouldstruggletodealwiththeseharshtemperatures, losingfocusandreactionspeedinthesefinallaps, ultimatelymaking a controlledfinishimpossible.
Andit's a driver's physicalandmentalresiliencetothesepressuresthatultimatelydecidesthewinner.
Sostillseeyourselfinan F1 car?
Youmighthave a bitofworktodofirst.
So, inordertobe a greatFormulaOnedriver, youneedtohavethecognitivecapabilitiesof a chessgrandmaster, thestrength, staminaandreactionsof a fighter, andthenyoualsohavetohavetheenduranceof a marathonrunner.
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