Lando Norris has said that he has been suffering from back issues from some time now. While he hopes that there aren’t any long term effects, the people around him say otherwise.
Physical health is very important for Formula 1 drivers. Being in a cockpit for 2 hours a day, while facing over 4Gs every minute is not an easy task. The drivers needs to be able to sit in a fixed position for the entire race without moving. He will also need to have the right balance of muscles and fat to control the human body at such high-speeds.
Lando Norris has said that he has been facing some back issues recently.
“It was worse last year than it is this year. Almost every year until last year, I could get away with just hopping in the car and not doing any physio. Not the best thing, I always did it but I could get away with it. Now I have to do it. I have to stretch, I have to do all these things, morning and evening, before every session. If I don’t, then I always struggle a lot more with my back.
📰:McLaren’s Lando Norris opens up about battling back pain due to the physical demands of the new F1 cars.The ground-effect design and firmer suspension have taken a toll,forcing him to change his preparation routine and limit activities like golf. Norris hopes for softer cars… pic.twitter.com/p829IxKU41
— F1 Naija 🇳🇬 (@f1_naija) September 7, 2023
“But I’m in a much better position now so I’ve done some of my own stuff and done some stuff with the team and the seating and stuff like that. So I don’t know, I hope there isn’t any long-term effects but a number of people have spoken up about it and said it. I know everyone’s different. Some people don’t, some people do.”
Norris’ back pain was first reported when Formula 1 returned after the pandemic in 2020. Back then he said the pain was because he had been out of a Formula 1 car for too long.
A back issue could affect the driver’s ability to withstand the pressure in the cockpit. This could be a huge issue for Lando Norris‘ future in the sport. There are a few circuits in the calendar, which could be demanding for the McLaren driver.
Physically demanding F1 Circuits that could worsen Lando Norris’ condition
There are a number of circuits on the calendar which are physically demanding. One of the most damagin circuits lie in Baku. The Baku Street Circuit is a very bumpy track. A number of drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, have had problems on this track. The track also consists of numerous tight turns in sector 2.
Heat could also play a role in Norris’ physical condition. The higher the temperature, the faster the driver gets exausted. This will lead to the driver physically stressing more than usual. Tracks like Singapore and Monza and even Austin are some of the hottest in the calendar. Singapore will be one of the most physically demanding on the calendar as it is a hot street circuit.
Lewis Hamilton struggled with some serious back pain during the Azerbaijan GP😣#F1 #AzerbaijanGP #Mercedes #Motorsport pic.twitter.com/rV8gsnWUfd
— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) June 12, 2022
Most street circuits will not be convenient for Lando Norris’ back. Monaco for example will have a number of bumps. So will Australia. Although races like Monza and Austin are not street circuits, the heat will exhaust the drivers.
Races in the middle east can also be expected to be hot. However, all of the races in the middle east take place in night time. The temperatures in these areas are cooler in the night. So it will be more manageble for the drivers. The same goes to Singapore, but Singapore is still hot in the nights.
All of these tracks could be trouble for Lando Norris. However, he says that his condidtion is improving. So this may be good news. But if it gets worse, we could see a early retirement from him, which would give him a shorter timeline to win a Championship.
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