Best of 2018 | Beyond The Grid | Official F1 Podcast

Customization

Formula 1 drivers often seek innovative ways to customize their equipment for a competitive edge. Tom Clarkson highlights how Nico Rosberg modified his gloves to improve his grip on the clutch paddle, removing seams and patches for better feel. This customization led to a series of successful race starts, prompting Lewis Hamilton to adopt the same glove design 1.

It was a case of no stone left unturned for Nico and it paid off handsomely.

--- Tom Clarkson

Such meticulous attention to detail underscores the lengths drivers go to in pursuit of marginal gains.

   

Nutrition

Nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining peak physical condition for Formula 1 drivers. Esteban Ocon shares his unique dietary regimen, which includes consuming large quantities of food while maintaining only 4% body fat 2. His diet consists of frequent meals, such as six to seven eggs for breakfast and multiple chicken breasts for lunch, ensuring he has the energy needed for intense training and racing.

I eat every 2 hours, two, 3 hours. But I cannot do that all the time in the season.

--- Esteban Ocon

This approach highlights the balance drivers must strike between nutrition and performance demands.

   

Resilience

Overcoming adversity is a common theme among Formula 1 drivers, exemplified by Robert Kubica and Johnny Herbert. Kubica's return to F1 after a severe rally crash demonstrates his resilience and belief that rallying improved his driving skills 3. Similarly, Herbert recounts his near-fatal accident in Formula 3000, which tested his physical and mental fortitude 4.

The body's an amazing thing. Amazing, powerful, powerful thing that it can just take away all that normal pain.

--- Johnny Herbert

These stories of perseverance highlight the drivers' determination to succeed against the odds.