F1 released this week, the Calendar for its 2025 Grand Prix which captures dates for the racing sports 25 events this calendar year.

While going through the dates, and host cities from the first which is Melbourne Grand Prix in March to the last which is Yas Marina in December, my mind went to the extreme physical fitness that is required of a F1 Driver.

Most importantly is their unique sitting or should I say lying down position which uninitiated minds cannot fathom.

The driver’s seat is designed in such a way that lowers the centre of gravity making the car faster round corners. And because the driver sits so low the head protection system (halo and roll over bars etc) can be lower which generates less drag on the straights, meaning more straight line speed.

The drivers sit in a unique position that balances comfort, performance, and safety, with safety and performance having higher priority over comfort. The drivers sit with their backs reclined at a 30–40 degree angle.

Their legs are out in front of them and their feet higher than their hips. They sit in a custom carbon fiber seat that’s molded to their body shape, meaning that each driver has his seat customized to his body shape.

The driver’s position is part of the car’s aerodynamics, which helps the car corner, brake, and accelerates. Moreso, the driver’s position creates a bend in their knees, which engages their glutes more when braking.

On their field of vision, the seat height ensures the driver has a clear field of vision. And the steering wheel is adjusted so the driver can see the instrument panel.

While the driver’s comfort comes low in the scheme of things, his safety is uppermost, that is why one of the key safety features is that his feet are not allowed to be ahead of the front axle line. This is to help protect his legs. This is one of the reasons the cars have become longer.

Sitting in such a position looks crazy, but it helps with G forces by making the body more horizontal to allow blood to flow through the body while fighting much less gravity. To fit into such structure and system, drivers must be in top notch physical fitness, which is why their workout routines are like mad.

Fitness is needed not only to improve their reaction speeds, but also to ensure they can endure the sheer forces on their bodies for the duration of a race.

Whenever you see these guys doing their thing, show maximum respect. Few sports engage the entire human organs and body as F1.

This is actually an extreme sport.