F1 Fever Hits Singapore and Sebastian Vettel wins the race. But are Formula One Drivers athletes?

So there you have it – Sebastian Vettel won the Singapore leg of the F1 Grand Prix 2011. And unlike previous years, things had been pretty straightforward – no cars driving off with the fuel hose in the pit lane, no drivers smashing their steering wheels in front of the press, and no multiple collisions from the word ‘Go’.

For some Singaporeans, they can’t seem to get enough of F1 especially if it happens in their backyards. For me, I think F1 fever hit me only at 7pm today – when friends broadcasted their presence at the F1 circuit on Facebook. They were there to cheer on their favourite “athletes” in this “motorsport”.

Yes, F1 drivers are likened to athletes. I don’t fully agree with that view personally. After all they don’t spend hours sweating it out on the soccer pitch or on the basketball court.

But think about it, the drivers workout for hours in the gym to build up their core muscles to attain ‘core-stability’ – according to the pre-race documentary. Many of them hit the track or treadmill to build up their cardiovascular fitness to last through the 2 hours or so of grueling racing. No simple feat mind you – considering any one of them may end up in the retaining wall at 300 km/h in a moment’s lapse of concentration.

In our day-to-day lives, most of us would probably never come close to requiring this level of training and conditioning for our work. Still, a healthy and fit body sees us through our daily challenges. Simple things we can incorporate into our daily lives to maintain fitness includes:

• Having a healthy diet – and that starts with a good breakfast, possibly with oats to help keep our cholesterol levels down naturally
• Brisk walking from point-to-point – such as from your home to the bus or train station and back. Even for those fortunate enough to drive, walking to the coffee shop for lunch instead of driving burns off some calories.

In the latter respect, I particularly envy my hospital colleagues. You get to (or are compelled to) exercise at work by walking from one end of the hospital campus to the other between ward rounds, clinic sessions, lunch, teaching rounds – and still get paid for it.

So while I sit in the clinic counting my calories and deciding what my next metabolic commitment is, I wonder why there aren’t any women F1 drivers nowadays? After all, I know of many ladies who consistently out-drive me and have quicker reflexes – my wife being one of them.