Will Driver's Weight and Height Compromise Speed?

Greenback · 11 Mar 2007, 16:25 (Ref:1863680)

Driver/Height/Weight

FERNANDO ALONSO 171cm 68kg
LEWIS HAMILTON 174cm 64kg

GIANCARLO FISICHELLA 172cm 67kg
HEIKKI KOVALAINEN 172cm 66kg

FELIPE MASSA 166cm 59kg
KIMI RAIKKONEN 175cm 62kg

JENSON BUTTON 181cm 69kg
RUBENS BARRICHELLO 172cm 74kg

NICK HEIDFELD 164cm 59kg
ROBERT KUBICA 184cm 74kg

RALF SCHUMACHER 178cm 73kg
JARNO TRULLI 173cm 60kg

DAVID COULTHARD 182cm 75kg
MARK WEBBER 184cm 74kg

NICO ROSBERG 178cm 69kg
ALEXANDER WURZ 186cm 82.5kg

VITANTONIO LIUZZI 168cm 65kg
SCOTT SPEED 177cm 69kg

CHRISTIJAN ALBERS 176cm 68kg
ADRIAN SUTIL 183cm 75kg

TAKUMO SATO 163cm 60kg
ANTHONY DAVIDSON 160cm 55kg

Lightest : 55kg (Davidson)
Heaviest : 82.5kg (Wurz)
Diff : 27.5kg

Tallest : 186cm (Wurz)
Shortest : 160cm (Davidson)
Diff : 26cm

**Adam43** · 11 Mar 2007, 18:40 (Ref:1863738)

I don't think it will compromise Scott as he is roughly in the middle of those distributions of heights and weights.

strider · 11 Mar 2007, 18:59 (Ref:1863758)

Surely the minimum weight limit is for the driver and car combined, in which case it shouldn't really make any difference.

I suppose a tall driver might possibly impede the airflow to the engine, but I'm sure the teams will have sorted that out.

**Adam43** · 11 Mar 2007, 19:03 (Ref:1863762)

You are right, although you do have a little less scope with ballast. It has been that way for years. IIRC it was introduced while Berger was still racing.

Fletcher · 11 Mar 2007, 20:22 (Ref:1863828)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamAshmore

You are right, although you do have a little less scope with ballast. It has been that way for years. IIRC it was introduced while Berger was still racing.

It was introduced for 1995 IIRC. I think smaller drivers will always have an advantage in open-wheelers, although it's quite a small edge with the current rules. Nowadays it's mainly designers' headache, they have to make less compromises when the team has a short driver pairing.

I believe Kimi weighs some ten kilograms more than listed in the opening post, that information is from his Sauber year.

Knowlesy · 11 Mar 2007, 20:28 (Ref:1863834)

That's what drink does for you!

steve nielsen · 11 Mar 2007, 20:38 (Ref:1863851)

the thing is that if the driver weighs less, the team has to put more ballast in the car, but they can place that wherever they want(as low as possible), so it can make a huge difference.

**Adam43** · 11 Mar 2007, 20:47 (Ref:1863862)

Good point

How tall was Jos?

Haven't seen you around much.

maximus · 11 Mar 2007, 20:52 (Ref:1863873)

I'm sure Wurz weighs less than the list says too, I thought it was around 75 or something?

Sev · 11 Mar 2007, 20:55 (Ref:1863882)

I'm surprised how light they all are for their heights. Considering they're professional atheletes, I'd have expected more bulk.

On the plus side, we can now work out "Who is the Fattest Racing Driver?". My money's going on Rubens.

Knowlesy · 11 Mar 2007, 21:09 (Ref:1863907)

I'm sure Rubens will love to know that.

mrsweety · 11 Mar 2007, 21:14 (Ref:1863917)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sev

I'm surprised how light they all are for their heights. Considering they're professional atheletes, I'd have expected more bulk.

On the plus side, we can now work out "Who is the Fattest Racing Driver?". My money's going on Rubens.

Why, all have low fat so 65-75 kg and say 6-10% body fat is impressive! and a high amount of muscle! and they would need more cardio than short sprint strength so lower muscle. DC's heart rate is around 170bmp for the whole race!! impressive!

Steve Cram was 6.10 and 69kg!!

If into fitness read this

http://www.serpentine.org.uk/advice/coach/fh02.php

Kieran20 · 11 Mar 2007, 22:01 (Ref:1863992)

i find it amazing how light some of these drivers are. drivers have to work out alot to be able to drive these cars, and i was under the impression that muscle weighs more than fat. but im quite skinny, yet i still way 67.5KG. a bit puzzleing when davidson wiehgs only 55 kilos! yet can drive these machines being so light!

SennaTheGreat · 11 Mar 2007, 22:27 (Ref:1864047)

Kieran you dont need muscle to drive the cars though nowadays, remember you have power steering!!

Kieran20 · 11 Mar 2007, 22:30 (Ref:1864055)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SennaTheGreat

Kieran you dont need muscle to drive the cars though nowadays, remember you have power steering!!

yes i know, but the drivers do have muscle do they not? certainly alot more than i do considering im 17! maybe im drunk anyway

SennaTheGreat · 11 Mar 2007, 23:22 (Ref:1864119)

They have muscle but they will be toned so that there not bulging like a bodybuilders, look at a football player (im out of touch in training atm as not played for 4 years due to injury) there bodys are toned and slim, yet when they shoulder barge the strengh is there.

All the F1 drivers bodys will be toned for endurance, in football you run around for 45 minutes then have a 15 minute break before another 45 minutes.

In F1 drivers are in a hot, cramped cockpit going at 200mph, subjected to say 5/6 G's round a track for 2 hours with the only breaks being the pitstop, which last (average) say 7/8, maybe 9 seconds (depending on fuel strategys).

Ideally F1 drivers should be small (for the cockpits) and lightweight (for the overall car weight).

Drivers like Justin Wilson will be at a dis-advantage with his height, because he would be fairly cramped in the cockpit.

Drivers like Juan Pablo Montoya will bit at a dis-advantage because he did pile a few pounds on with his weight (imo), so making the car heavier.

Greenback · 12 Mar 2007, 00:52 (Ref:1864218)

I read from somewhere that both webber and DC are too big for the RB3. that might be a problem for the drivers.

neilap · 12 Mar 2007, 03:08 (Ref:1864251)

Athletes train in accordance to what their sport dictates. Drivers do not need the power that some other athletes may need but they do need endurance. They need to have strong necks too. Again, more about being able to do high repetition not explosive power.
Since genetics have a lot to do with how much a person can weigh and be healthy, when drivers are hired I am sure these factors are taken into consideration.

Height and weight will definitely hamper a driver. Taller people are going to weigh more so therefore they have to be even more below their average weight, they need to be more strict in their training. Weight is the enemy of speed. All things being equal most would rather lose a little weight in the car than gain a little power.

**GTRMagic** · 12 Mar 2007, 03:19 (Ref:1864254)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenback

Driver/Height/Weight

FERNANDO ALONSO 171cm 68kg
LEWIS HAMILTON 174cm 64kg

GIANCARLO FISICHELLA 172cm 67kg
HEIKKI KOVALAINEN 172cm 66kg

FELIPE MASSA 166cm 59kg
KIMI RAIKKONEN 175cm 62kg

JENSON BUTTON 181cm 69kg
RUBENS BARRICHELLO 172cm 74kg

NICK HEIDFELD 164cm 59kg
ROBERT KUBICA 184cm 74kg

RALF SCHUMACHER 178cm 73kg
JARNO TRULLI 173cm 60kg

DAVID COULTHARD 182cm 75kg
MARK WEBBER 184cm 74kg

NICO ROSBERG 178cm 69kg
ALEXANDER WURZ 186cm 82.5kg

VITANTONIO LIUZZI 168cm 65kg
SCOTT SPEED 177cm 69kg

CHRISTIJAN ALBERS 176cm 68kg
ADRIAN SUTIL 183cm 75kg

TAKUMO SATO 163cm 60kg
ANTHONY DAVIDSON 160cm 55kg

Lightest : 55kg (Davidson)
Heaviest : 82.5kg (Wurz)
Diff : 27.5kg

Tallest : 186cm (Wurz)
Shortest : 160cm (Davidson)
Diff : 26cm

It suggests that a Webber/Kubica team would be very well balanced, at the same height/weight... presuming the arms, legs, trunk etc were the same dimension too

FPV GTHO · 12 Mar 2007, 06:23 (Ref:1864307)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenback

Driver/Height/Weight

FERNANDO ALONSO 171cm 68kg
LEWIS HAMILTON 174cm 64kg

GIANCARLO FISICHELLA 172cm 67kg
HEIKKI KOVALAINEN 172cm 66kg

FELIPE MASSA 166cm 59kg
KIMI RAIKKONEN 175cm 62kg

JENSON BUTTON 181cm 69kg
RUBENS BARRICHELLO 172cm 74kg

NICK HEIDFELD 164cm 59kg
ROBERT KUBICA 184cm 74kg

RALF SCHUMACHER 178cm 73kg
JARNO TRULLI 173cm 60kg

DAVID COULTHARD 182cm 75kg
MARK WEBBER 184cm 74kg

NICO ROSBERG 178cm 69kg
ALEXANDER WURZ 186cm 82.5kg

VITANTONIO LIUZZI 168cm 65kg
SCOTT SPEED 177cm 69kg

CHRISTIJAN ALBERS 176cm 68kg
ADRIAN SUTIL 183cm 75kg

TAKUMO SATO 163cm 60kg
ANTHONY DAVIDSON 160cm 55kg

Lightest : 55kg (Davidson)
Heaviest : 82.5kg (Wurz)
Diff : 27.5kg

Tallest : 186cm (Wurz)
Shortest : 160cm (Davidson)
Diff : 26cm

Ok so looking at that, the BMI's of each driver are:

23.3 - Alonso
21.1 - Hamilton
22.6 - Fisichella
22.3 - Kovalainen
21.4 - Massa
20.2 - Raikkonen
21.1 - Button
25 - Barrichello
21.9 - Heidfeld
21.9 - Kubica
23 - R.Schumacher
20 - Trulli
22.6 - Coulthard
21.9 - Webber
21.8 - Rosberg
23.8 - Wurz
23 - Liuzzi
22 - Speed
22 - Albers
22.4 - Sutil
22.6 - Sato
21.5 - Davidson

So yeah, Barrichello is packing the most pounds for his size. Montoya is currently 25.5 judging from the figures on his official site however.

Jimmy Magnusson · 12 Mar 2007, 10:59 (Ref:1864512)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kieran20

i find it amazing how light some of these drivers are. drivers have to work out alot to be able to drive these cars, and i was under the impression that muscle weighs more than fat. but im quite skinny, yet i still way 67.5KG. a bit puzzleing when davidson wiehgs only 55 kilos! yet can drive these machines being so light!

Yes, I was a bit surprised to see someone being so light! But then he's only 160cm tall - I'm 180cm's and standing strong at 57kgs

Team bosses, any offers?

Greenback · 12 Mar 2007, 11:26 (Ref:1864532)

See the difference?

maximus · 12 Mar 2007, 12:13 (Ref:1864564)

Button has to be one of the fittest out there surely? He is 6 feet tall yet only weighs 69 kilos!

neilap · 12 Mar 2007, 13:22 (Ref:1864624)

His diet is more than likely the biggest influence on his weight. Fortunately these guys have their meals and training planned out for them, it makes life much easier. We wont see Jense in a BK or KFC!

On a side note, a friend of mine went to London on vacation. He was on a tour bus when the driver said... "... and here we have Americas two biggest weapons of mass destruction... MacDonald's and Burger King".

We could learn a lot from some of the people we see on TV. Maybe a cause Jenson could promote along with his new green initiative would be better eating.

Leighton Irwin · 12 Mar 2007, 17:14 (Ref:1864821)

It is one heck of a lot easier to take 5 Lbs. off a driver than to find that savings in a car. I know they are all using ballast but how much and where can be very important.

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