We now know that the Qatar Grand Prix was one of the most stressful races for the drivers, and not just because of the heat. The high temperatures literally drained the entire grid, with half of the drivers feeling unwell. Moreover, there was the controversial “track limits” issue that led to the deletion of numerous lap times.
Drivers like Logan Sargeant candidly admitted they couldn’t endure and retired. Esteban Ocon, on the other hand, vomited in his helmet without saying a word, and Lance Stroll even briefly risked passing out at the wheel.
Personal trainers unequivocally described the conditions the drivers faced in Qatar as “incredibly dangerous.”
Dr. Chris Tyler, an environmental physiologist in the field of life and health sciences at the University of Roehampton in London, also weighed in on the matter. With a decade of experience, he has worked closely with professional athletes, including the McLaren team. His work focuses on human responses to extremely harsh environments, such as extreme heat or cold.
Dr. Tyler explained that when watching the race, what immediately stood out was the drivers’ suffering, which was even audible through radio communications: “It wasn’t just that they were a bit uncertain while driving, but they were genuinely struggling to see, and they were losing consciousness. They had nausea and vomiting, and you don’t need much experience to know that this is not normal, especially when you’re driving at 200 miles per hour.”
Dr. Tyler particularly emphasized the importance of being hydrated before the race. Dehydration sets in as soon as the body temperature rises and sweating begins. It all depends on how much the drivers drink during the race (some choose not to).
“If they were sipping during the race, they could maintain hydration for about 50% of the time. If they were sweating two liters per hour and drank about a liter for an hour, they could roughly maintain hydration,” the expert continued.
The problem arises when the body starts to sense liquid essence. That’s why it’s crucial for drivers to be able to drink a certain amount of fluids and not all at once.
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We saw some drivers, like Charles Leclerc, trying to withstand the G-forces. Why does this happen, and what is going on in his body? Tyler also provided an answer to this question: “As hydration levels worsen, physical performance decreases.” This also has a significant impact on mental faculties. This explains why Stroll, at one point, briefly passed out while driving.
Esteban Ocon vomited after just 30 minutes into the race. Dr. Tyler specified that the driver experienced a mix of factors that induced his body to react in that way: heat, humidity, G-forces, and the concentration required to adhere to track limits.
In conclusion, the expert described the conditions in Qatar as “borderline” and “the perfect storm” because the drivers pushed themselves to the very limit of their capabilities. But it could have ended much worse.
Source: f1ingenerale
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