He works hard for the money

Australia’s most recent Grand Prix winner, Mark Webber, says it’s damn hard work being a Formula One driver these days. The Red Bull racer is not surprised that Michael Schumacher’s F1 return was thwarted by a neck injury.

“Your neck is designed only to keep your head on your shoulders,” he said. “If you throw a different challenge at it, such as handling massive G loads, the body responds, because it’s a clever thing, but the only way to keep your neck in condition is to drive.

“The muscles you require to complete a grand prix distance probably start to fade within five or six weeks of inactivity – you feel it once you’ve been away for a time.”

Webber knows a thing or two about returning to F1 from injury after breaking his leg during the Australian summer. Widely acknowledged as one of the sport’s fittest drivers, it has been said that Webber has only just returned to full fitness.

No surprise, then, that with a reliable and consistently competitive RB5 at his disposal, he now finds himself in the hunt for world driver’s title. The Australian currently sits second, behind Jenson Button, in the title race.

But don’t go thinking that having a good car makes this F1 game easy, no, Mark won’t be having any of that.

“Ours is not an easy working environment. It can be hard to breathe when you’re cornering at high speeds, with your rib cage cramped and big G forces pulling you around.

“Also, people tend not to realise how much muscular effort our arms and legs endure during a race – braking can require a force of 80-90kg, for instance. You’re wearing a crash helmet, there’s a radio jammed against your lips and it can be fiercely hot.”

I almost feel sorry for him!

Here’s hoping Webber’s great recent form can continue at Valencia in a bit over a week.

[Source: Telegraph.co.uk]