Skills for speed: 5 skills you need to become a Formula 1 driver

No one would ever try to deny it: being a Formula 1 driver is one of the most difficult athletic professionals in the world. The combination of driving skills, mechanical insight, physical strength and mental balance is a heavy burden, and one only left to the true experts in the craft.

Whether you’re using your best home racing simulator for fun or to become a pro - here are five skills you need to get onto the Formula 1 circuit.

1. Physical health & stamina

Racing is an insanely demanding sport in terms of physicality. You have to be in top physical condition to be able to stand the high temperatures, strong G-forces and a sustained heart rate well into the hundreds during race time.

The body is under extreme G force pressure during a race, with the pressure forcing the weight of the driver’s head and helmet to multiply as well as creating seriously heavy force on the seat (numbers vary between racing styles).

Core strength and upper body training are crucial to ensuring Formula 1 drivers can handle these outrageously intense demands during one of the many races that take place each year on the way to the number one spot.

2. Emotional balance

We said that racing is physically intense: now think of the mental pressure that comes with Formula 1! Think about it: you’re out there in a vehicle travelling at speeds around 350km per hour, with the objective of beating every other driver reaching those speeds and attempting to do exactly what you’re doing!

Next, there is pressure from your team, fans and sponsors to consistently perform throughout the year so that you can win crowning F1 glory. The last thing you want to do is lose your head when out on the track - it could be the difference between winning and losing.

Therefore, maintaining a healthy emotional balance (which physical health plays a big part in) is crucial to becoming a successful Formula 1 driver.

3. Driving skills, duh

You need to be able to drive (obviously). You need to know all there is to know about handling corners, braking and accelerating, taking on the opponent’s slipstreams - the list goes on!

Formula 1 drivers know they have to get somewhere on the circuit as quickly and as safely as possible, so foresight on the race track is another essential skill. You must develop these skills over time, with every element becoming habitual to your craft.

4. You have to know your vehicle

Formula 1 drivers don’t just jump in any vehicle and start burning (at least not to the same level in a car they know!). You have to know your vehicle inside out, just as you would know your racing simulator vehicle and all its specifications.

Knowing your vehicle allows you to adjust to the conditions on different circuits and understand if a problem occurs when going 350kms an hour!

5. Reflexes

Any athletic endeavour that involves something moving fast requires tip-top reflexes, and it just so happens that Formula 1 cars go pretty much as fast as anything else on the sporting calendar!

Timing and the ability to quickly adjust is everything on the Formula 1 track: your peripheral vision and hand-eye coordination have to be off the charts to be able to make those split decisions that could win or lose you the big race.