What is the definition of G-force in Formula One or in any category of motorsport? How Important is it to develop the fitness of the neck muscles even more so than any other part of driver's body?



Well, the G-force measuring graphic is always featured at the corner left-side on the TV screen when we watch races. It means "the physical force equivalent to one unit of gravity that is multiplied during rapid changes of direction or velocity" so, while racing an F1 car, drivers experience drastic G-forces (multiples in force of gravity) when they accelerate, brake and corner. It is measured like this: a single G or gravitational force is equal to a driver's normal weight, two G is twice that, and so on. Meaning that during an F1 race the drivers will experience up to 4 or 5 G's routinely under braking and cornering or where the car might slow down to low speed from its top speed of 300-350km/h in only a couple seconds. And for a flying lap accelerating, 3G is the maximum that a driver could experience where his head and neck has to support up to 25 Kgs lateral force during a long corner. It is like driving along having a sack of potatoes into your head while driving all the way with each braking and cornering. That's why all drivers assign a high priority to strengthen and training the neck muscles for maximum endurance. As much as one and half hours or sometimes more during working out. obviously, that's why they all have bulky necks compared to any other part of their body as a result.



The 2017’s F1 regulations have allowed the teams to use a new breed of F1 car, and as we have witnessed with wider tires and improved aerodynamics. Since last season that has greatly increased the amount of grip that each car carries through corners over last year. Also, at Albert Park’s quickest corners, with the drivers now pulling over 6G's through Turns 1 and 11. In such a circuit like Albert Park with 58 laps, that's actually a lot of cumulative G-forces for the driver to deal with. I believe that is a physically tough job for drivers especially with Formula 1 changing its rules for this year.



For example, this year, Lewis Hamilton was seen at the same circuit with 6.5G while cornering at Turn 11, up to 1.2G comparing to last year as it shown below, surprisingly, that is even more than the most extreme rollercoaster on the planet delivers as the F1 website has described it. Now you start to understand why the drivers were forced to adapt their training program for the increased G-forces produced by the 2017 cars.





(Turn1) 2017 Pole lap at the Australian Grand Prix and see the massive elevation in G-Force from the previous year.





(Turn11) 2017 Pole lap at the Australian Grand Prix and see the massive elevation in G-force from the previous year.





As this makes F1 more exciting for the spectators, the drivers have welcomed the added challenge as well...

Felipe Massa commented in Autosport "Definitely I will remember that it [the 2017 car] is nice to drive," Massa said. "When you're just driving the car it is quite a nice feeling for the driver in terms of the G-force and the physicality.



"It is incredible, the grip is fantastic, the aero makes such a drastic difference. You can push deep into the corners, it is amazing." Hamilton said to Motorsport.



Jenson Button added: "The fast, flowing parts, the high-speed corners, that's where a Formula One car is at its best - changes of direction, pulling high g-forces left and right."



Also, Haas Formula One driver Romain Grosjean who said that the cars in the race are pulling close to 8 G's when running hot. "The cars are brutal to drive, we are not far from 8G with the peak in high-speed corners, so it is pretty good fun. But it is hard on the body, it is hard on parts, it is hard on the cars," Grosjean said to Motorsport.



Anyway, did you know that the Fighter-Jets can pull up to 9 G's vertically, and the more a pilot can take without blacking-out, the better their chances in a dogfight. Some pilots wear "G-Suits" which help push the blood away from their legs and towards the brain to prevent a blackout. That is for the fighter jets, but what about the space rockets? How many G-force do astronauts experience during a rocket launch? Well, If the G-force has exceeded 9G's is considered a high-level of G-force and this can damage the body as the blood struggles to reach the brain with a risk of experiencing a black-out. Basically, astronauts normally experience a maximum G-force of somewhere around 3 G's during a rocket launch. As I have explained how much is the 3G's for an F1 driver, that's the equivalent to three times the force of gravity humans are normally exposed to when on earth.







Now it is clear to you that the G-force magnitudes and time it will be sustained by an F1 driver is even higher than that experienced by the astronauts.



Can you imagine now how much of these forces and pressures they have to handle through the whole season combined? Absolutely an F1 driver has to be considered a top level athlete to perform in this very demanding sport.





And now, I will leave you with some pictures showing how F1 drivers strengthen their neck while training...





















