7 Reasons Why It Sucks To Be An F1 Driver

1. Intense training

All drivers who enter Formula One have to cope with the high physical demands of the sport in terms of stamina and endurance. Drivers need to be strong enough to last for full race distances where they’ll experience anything up to 5g. Additionally, drivers can sweat off anything up to 3kg of their body weight during the course of a race. As an average, drivers tend to spend more than 10 hours a week on cardiovascular exercise and have below 10 per cent body fat.

2. No carbs, alcohol or sugary drinks

A healthy diet is fine, but only having high protein and complex carb meals (carrots, parsnips, potatoes or fruits) must be boring as hell. Drivers very rarely eat pasta or bread, while alcohol and sugary drinks are out (except on the podium). By the end of mid-season, then, F1 drivers must be craving a takeaway or a bacon roll!

3. The press

It must be annoying answering obvious questions, especially when things don’t go according to plan on the track. A failed team strategy is also a difficult thing to explain. When this happens, all an F1 driver wants to do is to stick his head in the sand and pretend that it never happened.

4. Jet Lag

Travelling around the world every weekend must take it out of an F1 driver what with jet lag, the crappy aeroplane air and simply not knowing what time zone/day of the week it is. When they want to sleep, it’s likely they’ll be needed out on track for testing, and that’s probably the last thing on their minds.

5. Being locked in with a douchebag

Teammates don’t always get on, so imagine working with the guy you think is a colossal douchebag. What’s more, F1 drivers are always competing each other in the team, and when favouritism means that you’re not allowed to pass the guy you think is slower than you to preserve points, then guess what? You’re going to absolutely hate the bloke!

6. Crashes

F1 is a dangerous game, and despite seriously impressive safety measures, good guys die and drivers continue to have spectacular crashes - just take a look at what Alonso went through recently. It must suck, then, to know that at any moment a blown tyre or a lapse in judgement could well mean the difference between life and death.

7. The fans

Starting out, it must be nice to have loyal fans who love what you do as much as you do. But there comes a time when all an F1 driver wants to do is to be left alone (here’s looking at you, Kimi). Unfortunately, the life of an F1 driver is anything but private. Fans will always beg for your attention, and the press will always be waiting for you to screw up or say something stupid.