Diet of F1 Racers

That only models care about their weight and that men do not diet is one of the myths that athletes have been breaking, not only with their metrosexual attitude and their secondary careers in advertising modeling as David Beckham or Cristiano Ronaldo did. On the contrary, a large part of their training is focused on controlling their bodies and specifically their weight. This is a consequence of the standards required for the different activities in which they participate. All sports have rules, and these do not only cover the measurements of the fields, the number of team members, or the necessary equipment, but also include the athletes themselves. For some, these rules may seem obvious, such as in contact sports, where it seems fair that opponents are on equal footing, but there are others where physicality does not seem as important, especially when it is believed that it is not required for competition; for example, in motorsports. Carmudi, the fastest-growing automotive portal in Mexico, has taken on the task of investigating some myths surrounding Formula One racing regarding the diets of its drivers. It has been said that they are not even true athletes and that the real glory belongs to automotive engineering, so they do not require any training. However, it is these drivers who endure five times the force of gravity and temperatures above 50ºC. They are the ones who, from a very young age, have to work on physical and mental strength as well as resistance and control in all aspects, to be able to race in the Grand Prix and bask in the joy of champagne on the winner's podium. What is behind this regimen? Why is it not enough to know how to drive and want to go fast? Well, just like in horse racing and boxing, in car racing there are parameters to achieve balance. That is why the muscle mass of Formula One drivers is constantly monitored by their teams. Important drivers, including the 2009 World Cup champion Jenson Button and Red Bull driver Mark Webber, consider this weight control a challenge that they have only been able to achieve through discipline. “I strive to reach the weight limit. I have done it for 6 years,” Button told reporters at the Korean Grand Prix. The weight of the drivers is a hot topic because next season the redesign of the cars will be heavier. This means that lighter drivers, like Felipe Massa, who weighs 59 kilos, will have an advantage over larger drivers like Nico Hulkenberg, who weighs 74 kilos, due to the balance that each team's car must achieve. Race cars have a minimum weight of 642 kilos (car and driver combined without fuel) to help level the competition. Teams have margins to add ballast and adjust the balance and handling of the cars for each circuit; hence the preference for cars and drivers weighing below the minimum so that the team can play with ballast and fix the difference. “We try to develop the car, but sometimes that means the car is heavier, so when the car is heavy, the only way to lose weight is with the driver,” explains Carlos Corell, who manages Caterham and oversees the regimen and diet of driver Giedo Van Der Garde. Weight is just one of the reasons why new Formula One drivers have dispelled the myth that only the cars do the hard work. Today, drivers are considered athletes who train to achieve a lean body, carefully balanced and built for both endurance and strength. To achieve this, they need rigorous training combined with a precise and strict diet that combines carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats, such as olive oil and avocado. “We work hard to maintain weight. If you want to be in F1, you need to have drive, you have to train harder than the rest, you have to be careful with your diet,” Corell comments. Article courtesy of           Pasta with Olive Oil and Parsley Avocado Smoothie Sesame Chicken