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Why F1 drivers are smarter than you think

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A tie-up between Formula Medicine and Pirelli offering mental and physical exercises for racing drivers provided the ideal setting to conduct a unique test. We went to Italy to see how a normal person measures up against Sauber's Marcus Ericsson

Nestled in a nondescript industrial estate between the Ligurian Sea and the Apuan Alps is a building that has had a transformative effect on the motorsport world. The location of Formula Medicine is ideal for athletes - specifically racing drivers - to conduct year-long physical training, but it's the mental element of the centre that has made it a focal point for numerous drivers and teams.

Founded by the gregarious Dr Riccardo Ceccarelli in 1989, Formula Medicine has used technological developments to pioneer mental advancement for drivers, complementing their physical training, and the Tuscany-based organisation has taken another step through a collaborative programme with Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli.

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