Most Formula 1 drivers stand around the 5ft 9in- 5ft 11in range. This is the ideal height for a Formula 1 driver. Formula 1 is a sport where the driver’s height will affect the speed of the car, therefore, giving other drivers an advantage. Charles Leclerc falls in this category making it comfortable for him to drive the car.
An extremely tall driver will not be practical in a sport like Formula 1. A taller driver is usually heavier, to balance this weight, the team might have to remove some components to reduce the weight of the car. This may not always be the best solution for increasing the speed of a Formula 1 car.
Most drivers who are taller than 6ft 2in do not make it to Formula 1. Taller drivers will find it very difficult to even steer the car as the distance from the seat to the steering wheel will not be sufficient.
Is Charles Leclerc taller than Carlos Sainz?
Charles Leclerc stands at exactly 5ft 11in. This makes it convenient for him while driving a Formula 1 car. Although Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have similar heights when they are seen together on camera, Charles is taller by 1 inch (2cm).
This height difference does not give either of the drivers an advantage over another. Both drivers will be sitting in a similar position. Major height differences usually affect the seating position of the drivers. While sitting in a Formula 1 car, the driver is practically stretching out his legs.
So yes, Charles Leclerc is 1 inch taller than Carlos Sainz, but it doesn’t give either of them an advantage. However, Charles is not taller than Ferrari‘s reserve driver, Antonio Giovinazzi who is 6ft (1.83mtr) tall.
The seating position of a Formula 1 driver
Yuki Tsunoda is the shortest driver on the grid standing at 5ft 3in, while Esteban Ocon, George Russell, and Alex Albon are the tallest standing at 6ft 1in (1.85mtr). If we see the seating position inside the car for each of these drivers, we will be able to notice a few differences. However, we will not be able to spot these differences while watching a race. It would be theoretically impossible for Ocon, Albon, or Russell to drive in Yuki Tsunoda’s car.
Before every season, each driver has to get their seat designed specifically for them. This means that a taller driver might find it difficult to drive in a shorter driver’s car.
During the Sakhir Grand Prix in 2020, George Russell who is 6ft 1in (1.85mtr) stepped into the Mercedes to replace Lewis Hamilton who is 5ft 9in (1.74mtr). George Russell would have found it difficult to drive in Hamilton’s car as he would not have had enough legroom and would have found it difficult to steer the car as well.