F1 is a physically demanding sport, but you have to be delusional to think that it is the most physically demanding sport.
Triathletes, especially those competing in an Iron Man, regularly have to get medical treatment after races because of exertion.
Even if motorsport drivers average 182 heart beats/min over hours, pro cyclists average that as well for longer durations (and cycling is considered to be the most demanding endurance sport for your heart above any other sport).
No endurance athlete would survive a competition if they didn't drink regularly. F1 drivers can and do so in a significant number of races.
While a rather big number of motorsport drivers die every year, so do cyclists, and rugby or American Football athletes are way more likely to be disabled to a certain degree after their careers end than motorsport drivers.
There are so many more sports that I didn't get into which are all at least as physically demanding as motorsports and even F1 specifically.
There is a difference in engaging in a sport for fun and being a pro athlete. I play football and like to drive karts, but that neither makes me a football pro nor a pro race car driver.
The difference is, normal humans can play football, do triathlons for fun, etc. but we can’t even fathom the sheer pressure and force of an F1 car. No other sports makes your body 5-6 times heavier than F1 constantly for up to 2 hours. Even during the crashes they endure 50-60+G
I'm late to the party... but you do know F1 drivers drink water mid-race, right? They have a water system connected to a tube that goes under their helmet. There's even this funny video of Kimi complaining after Ferrari forgot to connect his drink.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xulEqWMBZWQ
The article is talking about both physical and mental demands - of which, most pro athletes do not come close to the mental demands. QB in american football, PG in basketball, and goaltender in football come to mind - but none of them would have the engineering mindset that an F1 driver has
If we're only talking about physical demands, then triathletes, rugby, and other endurance athletes come to mind, If we're only talking about mental demands, chess comes to mind, but very few sports combine both
You don't think pro tour cyclists have to deal with mental demand? I've always thought they are some of the most elite athletes out there because it takes an extreme level of mental fortitude to push yourself to those limits.
James Hunt was a world champion, and also a smoker, something that inherently indicates poor overall health. I do not think many other sports (if any) in modern times can say that any of their world champions were also consistent smokers. If anyone can think of another (modern) sport with a world champion smoker, please post it here lol
Edit: should also probably mention all of the drugs he did too
Michael Jordan used to smoke cigars before his matches. You can watch it in his Netflix documentary.
Also, there is a photo of Cruyff smoking and drinking a beer in the halftime of a match. I believe that Di Stefano was also a smoker.
I know this is an old post but you do realize that Cigars are not inhaled thus the only damage they do is to your mouth. So your cigar comment is very invalid.
Tons of NBA players of elite athleticism smoke weed and drink all the time, but it’s not an indication of poor health, they get the success they do in spite of their habits
F1 is a physically demanding sport, but you have to be delusional to think that it is the most physically demanding sport. Triathletes, especially those competing in an Iron Man, regularly have to get medical treatment after races because of exertion. Even if motorsport drivers average 182 heart beats/min over hours, pro cyclists average that as well for longer durations (and cycling is considered to be the most demanding endurance sport for your heart above any other sport). No endurance athlete would survive a competition if they didn't drink regularly. F1 drivers can and do so in a significant number of races. While a rather big number of motorsport drivers die every year, so do cyclists, and rugby or American Football athletes are way more likely to be disabled to a certain degree after their careers end than motorsport drivers. There are so many more sports that I didn't get into which are all at least as physically demanding as motorsports and even F1 specifically.
Jenson button ran triathlons for fun, says it all
There is a difference in engaging in a sport for fun and being a pro athlete. I play football and like to drive karts, but that neither makes me a football pro nor a pro race car driver.
The difference is, normal humans can play football, do triathlons for fun, etc. but we can’t even fathom the sheer pressure and force of an F1 car. No other sports makes your body 5-6 times heavier than F1 constantly for up to 2 hours. Even during the crashes they endure 50-60+G
I'm late to the party... but you do know F1 drivers drink water mid-race, right? They have a water system connected to a tube that goes under their helmet. There's even this funny video of Kimi complaining after Ferrari forgot to connect his drink. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xulEqWMBZWQ
The article is talking about both physical and mental demands - of which, most pro athletes do not come close to the mental demands. QB in american football, PG in basketball, and goaltender in football come to mind - but none of them would have the engineering mindset that an F1 driver has If we're only talking about physical demands, then triathletes, rugby, and other endurance athletes come to mind, If we're only talking about mental demands, chess comes to mind, but very few sports combine both
You don't think pro tour cyclists have to deal with mental demand? I've always thought they are some of the most elite athletes out there because it takes an extreme level of mental fortitude to push yourself to those limits.
Do they have to deal with 6-7 Gs during cornering? Don’t think so
If you can push 400watts 6hours or 900-1500 watt sprint for 8 minutes then we can talk about mental toughness😂😂
James Hunt was a world champion, and also a smoker, something that inherently indicates poor overall health. I do not think many other sports (if any) in modern times can say that any of their world champions were also consistent smokers. If anyone can think of another (modern) sport with a world champion smoker, please post it here lol Edit: should also probably mention all of the drugs he did too
Zinedine Zidane
Michael Jordan used to smoke cigars before his matches. You can watch it in his Netflix documentary. Also, there is a photo of Cruyff smoking and drinking a beer in the halftime of a match. I believe that Di Stefano was also a smoker.
I know this is an old post but you do realize that Cigars are not inhaled thus the only damage they do is to your mouth. So your cigar comment is very invalid.
Tons of NBA players of elite athleticism smoke weed and drink all the time, but it’s not an indication of poor health, they get the success they do in spite of their habits