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.”