During races, Formula 1 drivers experience extreme physical strain, due to the G-forces that they endure and the sweltering heat inside the cockpit. This causes them to sweat profusely, leading many to wonder how F1 drivers stay hydrated and how they drink during a race.
F1 drivers drink during a race by using a bag of drinking fluid behind them in the cockpit that is attached to the driver’s helmet. They access this fluid by pressing a drink button on their steering wheel that pumps the fluid through a tube, keeping them hydrated while racing.
Not all drivers choose to drink during a race, and in some cases the fluid bag overheats and malfunctions, leaving drivers without any hydration. In this article we will further discuss the importance of hydration for F1 drivers, and what exactly it is that they drink when racing.
Can F1 Drivers Drink While Racing?
F1 drivers can and should drink while racing to ensure they maintain hydration despite the difficult conditions within an F1 car. They do so by activating the drink button on their steering wheel that pumps fluid into their mouth from a bag fixed into the cockpit.
Hydration is important to ensure drivers don’t become drowsy from excessive sweat caused by the extreme heat in the cockpit. As the drink bags are fixed inside the cockpit, where temperatures can reach 122°F, there have been occasions when they have overheated. During the Singapore Grand Prix in 2014 Kevin Magnussen burned his mouth after trying to drink from an overheated bag mid-race.
Ferrari once failed to attach the drinks bag properly in the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2018, leaving Kimi Räikkönen both thirsty and angry at his team, complaining about having wet feet. Not all drivers opt for mid-race hydration, with Lewis Hamilton preferring to take on fluids before and after the race instead of during.
The Importance Of Staying Hydrated In F1
It is of great importance that Formula 1 drivers stay hydrated during races, as they can lose up to 4 kg of weight per race. This weight is lost through sweat thanks to the intense heat inside the cockpit. The cockpit’s proximity to the engine causes the extreme temperatures inside.
Furthermore, drivers must wear thick, fireproof attire that has reduced breathability because of the many safety features. With this attire and the high temperatures, drivers will sweat profusely during a race,losing vital amounts of fluid. Drivers must make up for the lost fluid by increasing their water intake.
Driving an F1 car is also energy sapping, as drivers experience high amounts of G-force, which has the same effect as the driver having to push and pull against multiple times their own body weight. Without hydration, it would be hard for drivers to maintain high enough energy levels to get around the track.
As well as taking on fluid during races, drivers will be encouraged by their team to take on at least 1.5 L of electrolyte-infused fluid before races to make sure they feel hydrated enough to take to the track. Drivers also limit their exposure to the sun before a race in order to avoid sweating unnecessarily.
During the US Grand Prix in 2021, Sergio Perez’s on-board drinking system failed, meaning he spent the whole race without any form of hydration. He later stated that he began to feel weak after lap 20, losing strength in his hands and feet as well as experiencing reduced vision. Despite this, he finished the race in third place in front of a large crowd of Mexican fans.
The Benefits Of Hydration On Performance
The strain of hot temperatures can increase a driver’s body temperature by four degrees Fahrenheit, which can cause around 3 kg in sweat loss alone. This can cause mental and physical fatigue, slowing down the driver’s reaction time. Reduced reaction times can be dangerous for the driver and for others on the track.
Dehydration can also lead to slower lap times, as the driver won’t be performing with their peak concentration levels and reaction speeds. Dehydrated drivers can face a reduction in their braking ability, as well as an increase of smaller, unforced errors.
How Do F1 Drivers Drink While Driving?
F1 drivers drink while driving by taking in fluids through a tube connected to a drink bag that is fixed into the cockpit. The drink bag is attached to the helmet for easy access to the driver’s mouth. The fluid usually ends up as a warm solution, made up of various minerals and electrolytes.
Drivers will access this fluid by pressing a button on their steering wheel, pumping the liquid into their mouth, meaning they can keep 100% of their attention on the road ahead of them. The pumping system is no different to the mechanism that is used to wash the windscreen in conventional cars. Without this system, drivers could be at risk of passing out due to dehydration.
In days gone by, there was no button on the drivers’ wheels to allow them to drink. Instead, they would have to drink in a more traditional manner by sucking the fluids through a long straw connected to the bag. This was eventually deemed as too much of a physical distraction for drivers, and the electronic drinking method was introduced.
What Do F1 Drivers Drink?
F1 drivers drink a liquid formula consisting of high levels of glucose mixed with multiple electrolytes and vitamins, all designed to hydrate a driver with higher levels of efficiency than just water alone. The drink is described as warm, salty, and unpleasant to taste.
As the FIA have no current rules regarding what the driver can and can’t drink during a race, a team can ditch the salty solution for anything that they desire, whether it be an energy drink, water, juice, or lemonade. As hydration is so deeply important to the high-performance athletes that drive the cars, it’s difficult to imagine them drinking anything other than effective hydration fluid.
You may see the Red Bull drivers drinking out of what looks like a can of Red Bull before and after the race, however, this is likely just for sponsor exposure. Due to the effects that energy drinks, like Red Bull, have on the body, it is more likely that the fluid inside the can is water or a glucose solution.
How Do F1 Drivers Stay Hydrated Before And After A Race?
F1 drivers stay hydrated before and after a race by increasing their fluid intake, particularly drinking fluids with minerals and electrolytes. Hydration is extremely important before and after a race. Though they are taking in a lot of liquid, drivers are careful not to over-hydrate.
Before a race, drivers will drink around 1.5-2.5 liters of fluid,in order to achieve optimal hydration going into the race. They will take the fluid in slowly during a two-hour period before the race to make sure they don’t over-hydrate, which can cause nausea and disorientation.
After a race, drivers will usually be greeted with a bottle of water laid next to where they place their helmets. This is the beginning of the rehydration period for a driver, as they must try and regain some of the fluids lost during the race. If a driver fails to effectively rehydrate after the race, it can lead to a loss in muscle mass, as well as nausea, fatigue and reduced coordination.
Water with added electrolytes will often be consumed by the drivers after the race, with some even turning to coconut water for rehydration, as it contains the salts and minerals the body craves after losing a lot of fluid. Drivers will also have stretching routines to promote blood circulation through their muscles.
Can F1 Drivers Pee During A Race?
F1 drivers can pee during a race. There is no high-tech system installed in an F1 car that allows them to urinate in a sophisticated manner, and instead drivers must go in their suits. On occasions it has been rumored that drivers will wear adult diapers during races.
Most drivers will make sure to urinate before the race, in order to eliminate feelings of discomfort of any kind before entering the cockpit. This will also be in accordance with their hydration routine and overall race preparation before they step foot on the track.
It is difficult for an F1 driver to urinate in the car as that would involve an element of relaxation in certain muscles, which is no easy feat, especially when travelling at super-fast speeds. Peeing whilst fully clothed and sat upright in a car also goes against natural human instincts, making it even more difficult for a driver to comprehend.
Final Thoughts
F1 drivers drink during a race using a button on their steering wheel that sends fluid through a tube on their helmet, which is connected to the drink bag fixed to the cockpit. Consistent hydration is incredibly important for F1 drivers to maintain their performance during a race.
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