F1 Racing UK – August 2019

PRO

RACING

06 Performance:Neck strengthening

F1 FITNESS

50 F1 RACING AUGUST 2019

In the first

of a series

focusing

on specific

F1 training

regimes,

McLaren test

driverSérgio

SetteCâmara

concentrates

on the neck

INTERVIEWJAMESROBERTS

PICTURESADRIAN MYERS

NECKEXTENSION

EXERCISE

“The mainexercise

involves a harness which

we secure safely onto the

driver’s head and apply

load through hightension

cords.This isan isometric

strengthexerciseto

challengethe extensor

musclesto the rear of the

neck and aimsto build

strength and endurance

capacity, to withstand

extreme G-force under

braking. Without the

appropriate conditioning,

driverswould fatigue after

AFormula1driver’sneckmustbe ableto withstand immenseforces of upto 6G in both

braking and cornering. Thereforeexercisesto strengthen neck muscles are a crucial part

of a driver’s fitness programme. McLaren’s driver performance manager, SimonReynolds,

explainsfour routines performedby Sette Câmara, theteam’stest and reserve driver.

a few laps and have difficulty

holding their head upunder

braking.The drivershold

tension usingthe harness

only for short intervals,to

simulate race conditions

and ensure musclefunction

is optimised.”