Formula 1 is one of the most gruelling series in the world, with drivers going head to head at speeds over 220mph, which means that earning one of the elusive 20 spots on the grid is no mean feat.
Drivers of F1 cars will regularly experience forces of 4-6 gs knowing that one small mistake can cost them a race, such are the fine margins in the sport. To get anywhere near becoming an F1 driver, you have to gain experience at junior levels, earn special racing licences and condition your mind and body so that it is capable of performing under extreme conditions.
Karting
Countless F1 world champions began their racing days in a kart that has nowhere near the same speed or power. What karting does teach, though, is the fundamentals of racing – such as keeping to the racing line, when to brake and accelerate in and out of turns, dealing with in-race scenarios, and overtaking.
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, is the best current example of someone that has graduated from karting, winning multiple awards and trophies at the junior level, to dominating on the biggest stage. When you watch him drive today, you will see the same techniques that he learned and utilised to win the British Cadet Karting Championship at the age of 10 in 1995, two years after first getting behind the wheel.
That will give you a reasonable idea of how early you need to begin to have a chance of making it to F1, with drivers racing long before they can even think about taking their road driving test. It isn’t a cheap habit to fund, which is why it is crucial for many keen drivers that they gain sponsors to finance them.
Second-hand karts cost easily over £1,000, and that is without the maintenance associated with getting, and keeping, them race-ready. Many local circuits offer keen participants the opportunity to drive their track karts, making for a good way of finding out whether this is something the driver may wish to pursue. Motorsport UK details how to get started in karting for adults and children.
Racing Licence
There are different types of racing licences you will need to obtain, depending on the level you intend to race at. Some licences can be obtained without undergoing an exam, such as the RS Clubman licence which will allow entry into some autocross, trial, karting and cross-country events.
Most, though, will demand the driver to undergo a test and this includes the Interclub competition licence (formerly known as the National B) and allows the driver to participate in most club-level events.
Examination days take place at Association of Racing Driver Schools (ARDS) member circuits and this consists of a written theory test, including questions on the different types of flag and their meaning, followed by a practical test. In the practical, the examiner is not worried about setting any lap records but is, instead, looking for the driver to display the ability to drive safely around the track, as well as to deliver consistent laps of the circuit.
Safety Equipment
The faster the car, the greater the risks – that’s just common sense. Before you can even think about taking to a track in actual competition, you need to have the basic safety equipment, and again this won’t come cheap.
Basic safety equipment includes:
- Helmet – SNELL homologated to safety standard SA2010, SAH2010 or SA2015
- Frontal head restrain (also known as a HANS device) – the helmet must be fitted with posts to attach to the HANS device
- Fire-retardant race suit (must be FIA standard 8856-2000), underwear, gloves and boots
It is highly recommended that drivers try on multiple options of equipment such as helmets and race suits to ensure that they fit properly and comfortably. While this will come at a considerable cost, drivers should avoid settling for the cheapest option as better material will offer more protection should it be necessary.
F1 Driver Requirements
Unsurprisingly, to be an F1 driver you are going to need more than just your standard licence. All F1 drivers require the FIA Super Licence, which stipulates that the driver must be at least 18 years of age, have obtained a minimum of 40 Super Licence points over the preceding three years, and pass a theory test.
Super Licence points can only be earned in qualifying series, with points earned based on final standings in the respective series’ championship. Furthermore, drivers must have also completed at least 80% of the previous two full seasons in any single-seater championship.
As well as the technical details, drivers need to be talented and extremely fit. Gone are the days that you would see drivers such as James Hunt smoking on the grid before and after a race, with competitors tasked with keeping their body’s as finely tuned as their cars. As the cars, and the technology in them, have evolved over the decades, the demands of the driver have increased and it is essential that the mind and body can withstand the ordeal of going flat out in an F1 car for up to two hours.
In a sport where every little detail makes all the difference, the last thing that teams will want is an unfit driver weighing the car down when they have spent millions of pounds producing a machine designed for aerodynamics. In terms of training and preparing the muscles of the body to function when feeling 6 gs of force, that only comes with experience with no substitute for the experience of actually driving the car.
Starting From the Bottom
F1 is just one series in the world of motorsport, though it is considered to be the elite and to have any hopes of getting anywhere close then drivers have to start from the bottom. It is the same as any sport in this aspect, though the sacrifices are arguably far greater.
Begin by contacting a local karting circuit and getting behind the wheel of a kart and taking it from there. Whether your ambition is to become the next Lewis Hamilton, or you just simply enjoy motor racing, you can still take part in events and win trophies – you never know where this may take you.
