Malaysian GP: Behind the Scene Report

By Toyota Media
April 9 2007

The Malaysian Grand Prix is perhaps the most physically challenging track on the Grand Prix calendar.

If you have sympathy for the team members sweating in fire retardant suits under temperatures approaching 40 degrees, spare a thought for the drivers.

In Formula 1 it is not feasible to wear specially designed ‘cool suits’ which are sometimes used by sports and touring car drivers in endurance races.

“These suits require quite a sizeable supply tank for water,” explained Pascal Vasselon, “and it’s just not a possibility to accommodate them in a single-seater. We do repeatedly check the drivers’ drinks system but that is all that we can do.

Drivers regularly lose 3-4kgs of body fluid during the race and must take in drinks filled with electrolytes in order not to dehydrate. “In Malaysia we often hear about tyre degradation because the surface is quite abrasive, but unless they take in enough fluid, ‘driver degradation’ can also be a part of the performance equation,” Vasselon said. “Nowhere do the drivers receive a bigger payout for the effort of all their training.”