Formula 1 may be powered by machines, but the drivers themselves must be in peak physical condition. They endure extreme G-forces during races, putting immense strain on their necks, and often lose several kilograms of sweat at hot circuits like the Singapore Grand Prix. Training over the winter break involves both gym work and endurance exercises on treadmills or bikes.
In a Madrid YouTube interview promoting the inaugural 2026 Madrid Grand Prix, Williams driver Carlos Sainz named Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg as the F1 drivers most likely to run a fast 10km. “Who runs well? I think Gasly runs well. Nico. They are the ones who like to run the most. I would win it on a bike, but I don’t run!” he said.
Gasly’s 5k time of 18 minutes and 18 seconds, recorded in 2020, shows his elite athleticism, placing him among the top percentiles globally, even if short of Olympic standards. The French driver, turning 30 next month, debuted in F1 with Toro Rosso in 2017 and will reach his 200th Grand Prix later this season.
