F1 drivers - I didn't think it was this bad...

[Speeddog]

I don't follow F1 to closely, but I was perusing Crash!.com, and stopped in the F1 section to see what the soap opera had cooking.

Oh, look, a pic of an F1 car flipping.
Click on it to get a closer look at the undertray, as those aren't generally on display.
Click on a few more, and see the driver, Esteban Gutierrez, standing on the cowl of the tub.

WTF!



He's built like a make the beast with two backsing grasshopper.

Checked his stats, he's nearly 5'11" and 139 lbs ( 1.8m / 63kg for you offshore folks)

That's crazy.
Is this really what it's come to?

I'd read a bit on the drivers (apparently) whingeing about it, and thought they looked a bit thin in some pics.
And then read pderbyerous statements from Jean Todt that the driver's diets shouldn't be a problem.

[koko64]

Looks like F1 has joined skating, ballet and gymnastics re dieting.

[triangleforge]

"In my day, the drivers were fat and the tires were skinny."  -- Formula One driver Jose Froilan Gonzalez, the "Pampas Bull."

(Thank you, Google: http://jalopnik.com/former-formula-one-driver-le-mans-winner-jose-froilan-513587652)

[DarkMonster620]

I don't follow F1 to closely, but I was perusing Crash!.com, and stopped in the F1 section to see what the soap opera had cooking.

Oh, look, a pic of an F1 car flipping.
Click on it to get a closer look at the undertray, as those aren't generally on display.
Click on a few more, and see the driver, Esteban Gutierrez, standing on the cowl of the tub.

WTF!



He's built like a make the beast with two backsing grasshopper.

Checked his stats, he's nearly 5'11" and 139 lbs ( 1.8m / 63kg for you offshore folks)

That's crazy.
Is this really what it's come to?

I'd read a bit on the drivers (apparently) whingeing about it, and thought they looked a bit thin in some pics.
And then read pderbyerous statements from Jean Todt that the driver's diets shouldn't be a problem.

just look at the Moto3/2/GP riders . . . compared to Nascar guys . . . they're really really small . . .

[Speeddog]

NASCAR are 3300 lbs dry, so being small won't help much.

Allegedly, Tony Stewart is 5'9" and 180 lbs (though I've not seen a picture of him where he looks that).
Mark Martin is 5'6" and 135 lbs.
Danica is 5'1" 110 lbs, so Pedrosa's size.

[DarkMonster620]

NASCAR are 3300 lbs dry, so being small won't help much.

Allegedly, Tony Stewart is 5'9" and 180 lbs (though I've not seen a picture of him where he looks that).
Mark Martin is 5'6" and 135 lbs.
Danica is 5'1" 110 lbs, so Pedrosa's size.

I am 5'8" and 195lbs after the 5 I lost while sick Uhm . . .   

[derby]

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20140406/f1/140409904

[duccarlos]

Not sure why they're asking the drivers.

[derby]

Not sure why they're asking the drivers.

I'm not sure what you mean.

There's a minimum specified weight for combined car and driver. All else being equal, teams would prefer a lighter weight driver and the drivers feel pressured to minimize their weight to 1) be competitive and 2) keep their jobs.

[duccarlos]

The article implies that the drivers have a say in the minimum weight. Of course the smaller guys will want to keep the weight low.

[thought]

Once a competitor is hospitalized for trying to lower their weight... I think that should be a pretty glaring sign that it's time to adjust the rules.

And I agree with duccarlos... leaving the decision up to the guys have the most to lose by upping the weight limit is pretty self defeating.  It's like asking someone who profits from injuries to decide on the safety rules.

I'd love to see the weight limit be rider + bike in motogp too.

[derby]

The article implies that the drivers have a say in the minimum weight. Of course the smaller guys will want to keep the weight low.

ah, gotcha.

while the decision ultimately rests with the FIA, there are two groups that could possibly influence them:

the drivers (collectively as the GPDA / grand prix drivers' association)

the constructors themselves (which recently disbanded FOTA / formula one teams' association)

i'm guessing the constructors have more pull with the FIA and the (heavier) drivers are trying to gather support across the GPDA to convince the respective constructors to present a unified front in requesting an increased minimum weight.

[duccarlos]

If I was the governing body trying not to look like douches, I would weigh the heaviest car and the heaviest driver, then set the limit to that.

[Speeddog]

If I was the governing body trying not to look like douches, I would weigh the heaviest car and the heaviest driver, then set the limit to that.

Dunno why you're bringing common sense to the table.

[DarkMonster620]

If I was the governing body trying not to look like douches, I would weigh the heaviest car and the heaviest driver, then set the limit to that.

sounds reasonable . . .