The vital ally to F1 drivers behind key performance gains

By:

GP Racing

Dec 18, 2022, 3:42 PM

At a time of rampant calendar expansion, physiotherapists have becoming an increasingly important tool in a Formula 1 driver’s physical wellbeing. And as BEN EDWARDS explains, the winter is perhaps their most crucial period of the season

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Wrapping up the 2022 F1 season with smoother action on track was encouraging after the early season challenge for drivers. The new technical regulations and heavier cars with ground-effect aerodynamics were always going to provide a different feel in the cockpit, yet the aspect that leapt up was the porpoising: cars being sucked down to the track surface then released, a pattern repeated at rapid intervals when flat out in a straight line.

It was tough physical challenge. Mark Arnall is a performance coach who began his career with McLaren in 1997 and went on to spend 20 years training and assisting Kimi Raikkonen before connecting with Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin this year. Like most people in the business, he had to deal with the new factor.