Formula 1 is a sport about speed. Consequently, F1 teams spend millions of dollars every year in a bid to gain that extra tenth of a second. At the same time, the F1 cars are designed with highly advanced aerodynamic concepts. Subsequently, the driver’s weight and heights play a major factor in the overall balance of an F1 car. Drivers often lose up to 2 kgs of weight during races as well.
Presently Formula 1 mandates a minimum weight requirement of 80km. Accordingly, this figure includes the weight of race suits, shoes, and crash helmets. This, in turn, allows drivers to try and have a weight lower than the minimum figure. Shorter drivers, such as Yuki Tsunoda, are well below this number. However, this difference is balanced by adding ballast to the car as extra weight. F1 teams can utilize the ballast to enhance the car’s overall balance by adding weight to preferred areas to regain the lost advantage.
Naturally, the F1 grid has drivers of varying heights. However, there is a stark contrast in the heights of the drivers. This could be a major challenge for a team to design the cockpit of the F1 car for tall drivers and short drivers. Similarly, a taller driver usually forces the team to design a bigger cockpit which in turn can change the way the car is developed.
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On the current grid for 2023, Yuki Tsunoda is the shortest driver, with a height of 1.59m. The Japanese driver is also the lightest f1 driver, just 54kg. Nyck de Vries comes second with a height of 1.68 m and a weight of 67 Kg. On the other hand, Esteban Ocon is the tallest driver in Formula 1 presently, standing at 1.86m. Williams driver Alexander Albon comes second. Nico Hulkenberg is the heaviest driver on the grid, weighing 78kg.
Driver | Height (m) | Weight (kg) |
Yuki Tsunoda | 1.59 | 54 |
Nyck de Vries | 1.68 | 67 |
Lando Norris | 1.70 | 68 |
Fernando Alonso | 1.71 | 68 |
Valtteri Bottas | 1.73 | 69 |
Sergio Perez | 1.73 | 63 |
Lewis Hamilton | 1.74 | 73 |
Zhou Guanyu | 1.75 | 63 |
Kevin Magnussen | 1.74 | 73 |
Pierre Gasly | 1.77 | 70 |
Carlos Sainz | 1.78 | 66 |
Oscar Piastri | 1.78 | 68 |
Charles Leclerc | 1.80 | 69 |
Logan Sargeant | 1.81 | 72 |
Max Verstappen | 1.81 | 72 |
Lance Stroll | 1.82 | 70 |
Nico Hulkenberg | 1.84 | 78 |
George Russell | 1.85 | 70 |
Alex Albon | 1.86 | 74 |
Esteban Ocon | 1.86 | 66 |
These figures might seem less relevant to new fans in the grand scheme of things. But the design and development of any F1 car are influenced heavily by such measurements depending from team to team. Consequently, It is no surprise that drivers indulge in intense workout routines to maintain their fitness and weight.
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