Formula 1 drivers develop highly specific physiological adaptations closely linked to the demands of ultra-high-intensity driving. Accelerations of up to 3–4 g, mechanical loads on the neck, constrained postures, thermal stress, and limited recovery periods shape the driver’s body in a unique way. This is the key finding of an international review conducted by the University of Trieste in collaboration with the University of Roehampton (London), with the direct involvement of three Formula 1 performance coaches working at the highest levels, including the trainers of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen.

The study, aimed at addressing the lack of specific scientific knowledge on drivers’ physiology, was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the leading peer-reviewed scientific journal in the field of sports medicine and science.

Formula 1 drivers, the authors explain, are not necessarily “outliers” in general parameters such as height, body mass, or aerobic capacity compared with other professional athletes. However, highly specific adaptations emerge, first and foremost the development of neck strength, which is essential to counter the high multidirectional forces acting on the head—and helmet—during cornering, braking, and acceleration, and to preserve visual stability, driving precision, and reaction time, all decisive factors for both performance and safety. In addition to neck strength, researchers identified other specific adaptations: the ability to withstand repeated and asymmetrical loads—including those affecting the lower limbs, especially during braking—adaptations of the trunk muscles, shoulder girdle, and deep stabilizers, as well as the heart’s capacity to manage peaks in heart rate.

Alex Buoite Stella, co-author of the study and lecturer in Physiology at the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences of the University of Trieste, explains:
“The Formula One championship is one of the most fascinating and globally visible sports, but it is also among those that impose some of the most complex physiological demands on the athlete’s body. Accelerations, braking forces, thermal stress, constrained postures, and limited recovery accumulate throughout the season. With this work, we aimed to systematically understand how the driver’s body responds and adapts to these demands, combining scientific research with the direct experience of coaches working in Formula 1.”

The study also highlights the growing impact of environmental and logistical factors in modern Formula 1. With twenty-four races across twenty-one countries, intercontinental travel, and events held in extreme climatic conditions, thermal stress and recovery management become central elements. Researchers from the University of Trieste, together with several students from the Racing Team UniTS—the university’s Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) team participating in the international university engineering design competition—analyzed the environmental conditions of all races in the most recent championship, estimating their potential thermal impact on drivers. Recent episodes, such as the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, have shown how extreme heat can pose a real risk not only to performance but also to drivers’ health.

In this context, strategies such as heat acclimatization, pre-race cooling, and targeted hydration management are increasingly widespread, but—according to the authors—many practices are still guided more by experience than by data collected directly during races.

Structured interviews with performance coaches made it possible to describe how physiological demands translate into highly personalized training programs, tailored to the type of circuit, the characteristics of the driver, and the expected environmental conditions.

“By combining clinical and research expertise with the experience gained daily in the paddock, we were able to build the most up-to-date picture currently available of the physiological profile of a Formula 1 driver. Our work not only identifies areas where further research is needed but also proposes practical strategies to optimize performance while protecting athletes’ health,” Buoite Stella adds.

The authors and coaches point to the need for increasingly specific studies for Formula 1, conducted as close as possible to real racing conditions, capable of measuring parameters such as heart rate, body temperature, oxygen consumption, and lactate levels. Such research could also help clarify possible long-term health effects, particularly regarding the lumbar spine and exposure to vibrations from the cars.

Kim Keedle, a Formula 1 performance coach involved in the study, concludes:
“Since regulations prohibit the use of monitoring devices inside the car, we rely on data collected outside the vehicle, which entails certain limitations. For instance, it would be interesting to compare heart rate responses while driving on different circuits and under varying conditions. Compared with other sports, heart rate measurement may seem relatively simple, but it would represent a major step forward and would allow us to quantify the physiological demands more precisely and prepare drivers accordingly.”

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Full study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine
The physiological and health demands of Formula One motor racing: a comprehensive review with driver performance coach insight
Christopher James Tyler¹, Luke Felton¹, Andrea Ferrari², Kim Keedle³, Rupert Manwaring⁴, Alex Buoite Stella⁵

1. School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Roehampton, London, SW15 4JD
2. Motorsport Performance Coach, Italy
3. Motorsport Performance Coach, Australia
4. Motorsport Performance Coach, United Kingdom
5. Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy