10. The F1 diet
During a race drivers are subjected to extreme G forces and heat. As a result, drivers can lose as much as 4 kg of body mass during a race. The wight is, however, quickly gained back with post-race hydration and meals.
9. Hydration, hydration, hydration
F1 drivers are likely to lose as much as 3 liters of water during a race. To ensure that such drastic water loss does not affect psycho-physical abilities, drivers have a strict hydration regiment before each race.
8. The steering wheel is removable
The inside of an F1 car, commonly refereed to as the tub is form fitted for each individual driver. As a result there is little room to manoeuvre and as a result, the steering wheel is removable to allow drivers to get in and out of the car more easily.
7. Drinking and driving
Drivers take on liquids during the race via a tube running through their helmets. The fluids contain high amounts of mineral salts to ensure the drivers bodies are able to operate at peak condition.
6. Lella Lombardi is the only woman to ever score F1 points
Only one woman has ever earned scored points, or rather half a point during an F1 season. Italian driver Lella Lombardi scored the historic 0.5 of a point after placing 6th at the Spanish Grand Prix in 1975.
5. Numbers assigned according to standings
The number 1 is assigned to the driver that finished in first in the standings of the preceding season, with that driver’s partner on the grid being assigned number 2. The rest of the drivers are assigned numbers according to the place they secure in the standings of the preceding season.
4. 46 F1 drivers have lost their lives
F1 is not for the faint-hearted with 46 drivers having lost their lives during competition in the history of the sport. Recent years have, however, seen a significant push towards safer proceedings with the last fatal crash occurring in 1994.
3. Time for a weigh-in
Under current F1 rules cars must weigh a minimum of 640 kg. However, many cars weigh-in well below that requirement and are required to add ballast to make up the difference. In previous years, some cars have weighed-in as low as 440kg.
2. The #13 is never assigned.. well almost never
The number 13 has only ever been assigned to two drivers in the history of the sport. The two drivers being Moises Solana and only of only five woman to ever have competed in the sport, Divina Galica.
1. Hitting the wall
The force an F1 driver is subjected to during deceleration is equivalent to that of an a car smashing through a brick wall.
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