Formula 1 is the most demanding sport, but what makes it so? Is it the high speeds, the challenging cars, or the mental pressure? In general, yes, but it all comes down to one thing: the gravitational force. And here’s the thing: F1 g-forces are the highest of any sport. However, what are these forces, and how do you measure their impact? Let’s compare the maximum g-force in Formula 1 with everyday life.
What Are G-forces And Why Are They Important For F1?
In a nutshell, g-force is the extra pull you feel on your body when you speeding up or slowing down.
You rarely notice the gravitational force pulling us down at a constant rate of about 9.81 m/s².
Things change when you experience an acceleration of, say, 2 Gs. The force acting on you will feel like twice your actual weight due to an efficient acceleration of about 19.62 m/s². Tangible, right?
What has changed? Right, the rate of acceleration.
Because F1 is all about high speeds, drivers feel weight differently than we do. That is why in F1, g-forces indicate how many times greater the forces on the driver’s body are compared to normal gravity.
To understand this, think of a Formula 1 car generating high g-forces.
Its engine produces about 1,000 horsepower, while its aerodynamic body traps air and pushes the car down the track, increasing downforce. Furthermore, special tires provide a grip that allows the driver to stay in control at 350 km/h!
As a result, the driver feels constant pressure as the car changes speed or direction. Accelerating, braking, and cornering – all these maneuvers generate an average g-force of 5 Gs in Formula 1.
On the other hand, these forces are critical to producing more competitive Formula 1 cars. By testing the effects of g-forces, engineers are improving the body, chassis, and suspension systems to build a more robust, handling, and aerodynamically efficient F1 car.
The G-forces We Experience Every Day
But what do g-forces feel like? You already know because you experience them in the elevator every day.
Because of the constant speed, you may not notice it. However, you feel the weight increasing as you go up and decreasing as you go down, even though it’s a tiny pull.
It’s not a problem because you get used to it, but you may feel more uncomfortable with the g-force when you’re on a bus that stops suddenly or flying in an airplane. The latter makes you feel the impact of over 1.5 Gs on your body, while a sharp turn at 160 km/h in a racing car makes you feel almost 4 Gs.
However, the roller coaster is the only adventure where you can get close to the g-forces experienced by F1 drivers.
Accelerating from 0 to 250 km/h in 5 seconds delivers a thrilling 5 Gs, while a ride on the Flip Flap Railway can reach nearly 10 Gs.
What is 10 G force?
It is the feeling of being 10 times your normal weight, almost the same as being behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car.
How Much G-Force in Formula 1?
G-forces in Formula 1 start at 0.5 G and can go up to 60. It depends on the track layout and the race dynamics.
Here is the dynamic of G-force in F1 racing.
Take a look at the layout of each of the Formula circuits. Each one implies a different dynamic of g-force that drivers will experience as they complete the lap:
- Lateral g-force, the side-to-side forces that increase in the fast and technical turns when drivers corner or swerve;
- Vertical g-force, which affects the driver’s perception of weight when F1 drivers drive over hills or dips on elevated tracks such as COTA;
- Longitudinal g-force on the straights as drivers accelerate (positive g’s) and brake (negative g’s).
Therefore, any movement at the wheel of a Formula 1 car involves g-forces. Here are the typical g-force values experienced by F1 drivers as they pass through the lap:
- They feel about 2 Gs as they accelerate down the straightaway;
- Then they experience 5 Gs while braking, slowing down to navigate the corner;
- If the corner is technical, the g-force increases to 6 Gs.
- An additional 0.5 Gs due to the F1 car’s bounce or steep incline.
However, the difference between minimum (0,5) and maximum g-force (6) in racing is significant. In addition to the aerodynamic and suspension settings of the F1 car, the track’s layout also affects g-force exposure.
How Do Track Characteristics Impact Formula 1 G-forces?
The rule is clear: the greater the difference between minimum and maximum speed, the more g-force drivers will feel. The average speed on the course is just as crucial as elevation changes, tight turns, and the number of high-speed sections.
For example, at the Istanbul Park Circuit (Turkish Grand Prix), due to the high-speed entry and long, multi-apex layout, drivers have to deal with approximately lateral 4 Gs at Turn 8.
In a steep climb up the Eau Rouge at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgian Grand Prix), F1 drivers have to contend with 2 Gs.
At the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, after exiting Turn 4 and dialing very high speed, drivers rapidly change direction for sharp Turn 5, hitting lateral 3.4 Gs, as the car tries to maintain its grip while cornering.
F1 drivers need precise steering inputs and throttle control at speeds approaching 300 km/h through a long, sweeping right-hander, 130R at Suzuka (Japanese Grand Prix), which provides a lateral load of 3.9 Gs.
Although F1 drivers pass the T14 hairpin turn at the Shanghai Circuit (Chinese Grand Prix) at low 70-90 km/h (about 43-56 mph), the sharp change of direction and they must accelerate quickly to regain speed, feeling lateral acceleration 4.5 Gs!
The corners at the world’s fastest tracks, such as Monza, Suzuka, and Silverstone, are designed to produce breathtaking Gs. Drivers accelerate at over 200 mph (340 km/h) and navigate the hard braking zones so that these forces reach staggering levels.
For example, passing Copse, Maggots, and Becketts at Silverstone (British Grand Prix) and the Parabolica Curve at Monza (Italian Grand Prix) gives drivers 5 and 5.4 Gs, respectively, which are the highest g-forces experienced in F1 cornering.
Even though it is less than 6 Gs, the impact is very high.
What Are The Effects Of G-forces?
For the average person, like you and me, it is as if your body weighs six times more than your average weight. In an instant, your hands, head, and entire body will feel much heavier, while the total impact is distributed over your whole body mass.
As a result, you will feel pressure in your head, chest, hands, and legs. Your body will be cramped, and your muscles will tense.
As a result, the strain makes you uncomfortable, and if you don’t have a developed vestibular system, experiencing 6Gs will cause dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
Untrained individuals may experience tunnel vision or even blackout, a phenomenon known as G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC).
Physical form plays a significant role. For example, if you have a perfect fit, you can withstand a maximum force of 9G – the same as in a jet airplane, but only if the g-force impact lasts a fraction of a second.
However, 5-6G is the limit for the average person.
What’s the situation with Formula 1 drivers?
What Effect Does 6G Force Have On F1 Drivers?
In short, they cope well despite 6G forcing them to feel six times their body weight, pushing them from side to side, and causing physical stress.
The 6G impact in cornering strains the F1 driver’s body, muscles, and bones, while the increased head weight pressures the integrity of the neck and spine.
The heart works harder to circulate blood, increasing the heart rate and cardiovascular stress. And F1 drivers feel chest compression, which makes it difficult to breathe.
Very rarely, due to the blood’s pooling in the lower body, you may experience temporary blurred vision known as ‘gray out.’
Can g-forces affect the race results of Formula 1 drivers?
Not only can they, but the forces correlate to Grand Prix results because F1 drivers can lose concentration or control due to unexpected hits. Often, it happens because of the car’s behavior.
For example, in the 2022 season, Mercedes’ fundamental issue was that their cars bounced on the straights. So, after a poor result at the street circuit in the Baku race, Lewis Hamilton’s participation in subsequent races was a problem. He suffered severe back pain due to the G-forces that the bouncing car generated.
It means that F1 drivers must always be physically fit and mentally focused.
How Are F1 Drivers Prepared To Handle High G-forces?
Physical training, mental preparation, and safety equipment are three components that help them effectively withstand the highest g-forces in Formula 1.
With physical training, everything is simple.
G-force training in Formula 1 aims to make muscles strong, not big. Otherwise, all F1 drivers would look like bodybuilders.
But they’re not, and the physical training of an F1 driver makes the core, hands, legs, spine, and neck muscles feel much heavier to withstand prolonged periods of high lateral g-forces on the track.
A strong core helps maintain control, while the core’s exceptional muscular endurance helps handle rapid changes in speed.
The neck is the most vulnerable part of a professional racer’s body. Therefore, the F1 racers pull and hold weights on it.
As a result, the F1 drivers have the strongest necks. Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, and Pierre Gasly can lift a dumbbell weighing tens of kilograms, while Fernando Alonso can crack walnuts on his neck.
Finally, cardiovascular fitness supports supplying oxygen to the muscles, helping the drivers perform without exhaustion.
But what does mental training have to do with g-forces?
It is simple. Formula drivers improve focus to maintain concentration despite the physical discomfort and cardiovascular stress.
The problem is that 6 G is not the limit. The highest hits come from accidents and crashes when the F1 driver can experience over 60 Gs.
What is the maximum G-force in Formula 1?
The highest g-forces in recent Formula 1 events have an extra 30 Gs and can reach 70 Gs without serious injury to the drivers.
For example, at the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Mick Schumacher hit a concrete wall at over 258 km/h on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, experiencing an impact of 33 Gs. The medical examination showed no injuries.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, testing for Mercedes in free practice for the Italian Grand Prix, crashed the car in the famous Parabolica at Monza and felt 45 Gs.
In the 2022 British Grand Prix, Max Verstappen collided with Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone, coping with the impact of 51 Gs as he hit the barrier sideways.
During the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, Romain Grosjean received a 67 Gs impact when he clipped the wing of Daniil Kvyat’s AlphaTauri and slammed into a barrier at nearly 200 km/h! Grosjean escaped with only second-degree burns to his hands.
However, when VCARB driver Yuki Tsunoda crashed at the Hungaroring during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, he struggled 68Gs.
The Historical Peaks Of F1 G-force In Races
The highest g-force experienced by a Formula One driver in a crash was at the 2004 United States Grand Prix when Michael Schumacher’s brother Ralf crashed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He experienced 78G, even though doctors had warned Schumacher that there was a crack in his spine that would damage him in the future.
However, the highest g-force ever staggered in Formula 1 was in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix qualifying session, when Roland Ratzenberger crashed head-on into the wall at 313 km/h, reaching 500 Gs.
How many G’s can an F1 driver survive?
The ability to withstand g-forces depends on several factors:
- Force’s direction and duration: A front-to-back or side-to-side force affects the body differently than a vertical force. In terms of duration, drivers can cope with high but short bursts, while prolonged or repetitive exposure is dangerous even at lower Gs.
- Physical form: Body weight, muscle strength, and cardiovascular fitness play a role in withstanding G-forces, especially in demanding Bahrain or Saudi Arabian races.
- Equipment and safety: Advanced safety equipment protects every inch of their bodies during the event.
Impacts approaching 100Gs are beyond what any driver can withstand. So, although FIA Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert’s first hit was 33.7 Gs, the additional collision with Juan Manuel Correa had a second impact of 81.8 Gs.
But It has changed.
Everything has changed.
This sport has changed. If you compare this sport of the 2020s, 2000s, and even the 90s, Formula 1 has become more advanced. The cars are faster, the g-forces are higher, and the driver’s equipment is safer.
So, contrary to popular belief, F1 cars became faster. They complete laps quicker, even though they didn’t meet speed records of the past.
If the average g-force in Formula 1 used to be around 4G, today it is over 5G, as we already know.
Not only have the cars evolved but so have the tracks.
F1 circuits have been modernized with wider run-off areas and advanced barriers, while corner camber helps maintain traction to meet the demands of increased G-forces.
Overall, the surfaces, chicanes, turns, and corners got a new look.
The approach to exploiting g-forces has also evolved.
Thus, the g- forces play a crucial role in the design and performance of modern Formula 1 cars.
Engineers have explored how drivers race through these forces to maximize downforce, driving innovations in aerodynamics, advanced tire technology, and suspension systems.
This focus has led to the use of super-lightweight carbon fiber, which improved the car’s agility and efficiency.
As a result, modern F1 cars have become more stable and better in braking and acceleration, as all these elements are interconnected with g-forces.
But why is no one talking about the driver’s path?
No worries, the FIA has developed advanced safety equipment.
The Drivers’ Equipment Against The High F1 G-forces
The key to coping with the high g-forces is to stay still because every change of direction adds weight to the hands, head, and legs.
Because the racer sits in the cockpit of a Formula 1 car, he is strapped in so tightly that any movement inside is a big problem. The driver can only shift gears with his hand, brake with his feet, move the wheel, and turn his head a little to look in the mirror.
The F1 helmet safely protects the rider’s head from g-force hazards, whether he hits a wall or rocks on the track.
The titanium HALO system was introduced after the tragic accident of Jules Bianchi, who collided with a rescue vehicle, receiving 250Gs.
A curved bar placed over the driver’s head, the HALO can withstand impacts of up to 12 tons. Something tells me it can handle about 100G since it survived Romain Grosjean’s 67G crash without damage.
The HANS (Head and Neck Support) device protects the driver’s head and neck from excessive movement that can lead to fractures at high speeds.
All these devices are critical because when you compare F1’s g-forces to other motorsports, F1 breaks the record. NASCAR drivers typically experience about 3 G’s during cornering. MotoGP riders feel about 5 G’s during acceleration and up to 5 G’s during braking.
What comes next?
G-forces in Formula 1 will increase because the cars will be faster. As the tracks get better to allow for more exciting overtaking maneuvers, the drivers will experience more G-forces. So the average loads will increase to 7 and even 8G.
But that doesn’t mean driving a Formula 1 car has become more strenuous. The equipment has continued to improve to make racing safer.
However, we will surely know the full extent of these changes. In the 2026 season, the new era of Formula 1 will begin to dictate speed, pace, and technological innovations.
Until then, remember that F1 drivers develop the ability to handle 5G through years of practice, experience, and passion for the sport.
It’s like getting used to taking the elevator every day.
