i never thought of drivers as athletes

 

I always thought that any kind of sport has athletes. I think driving is a sport so drivers are athletes.

 

That is funny

 

This assertion pops up time and time again, usually from people who have zero understanding of motorsports. I had a roomate that made the same claim about race car drivers. He was a fat, chew spitting, dumb shit redneck that could hit a softball decently and basically nothing else. He considered himself athletic.

Most (if not all) current F1 drivers are excellent athletes at other sports. Look, you simply can't compete at that level without world class hand-eye coordination, endurance, physical and mental stamina. Come on, is it really that hard for people to understand?

To the OP, see what the folks in question have to say about the following:

1. Ask them if they could ride a roller-coaster for 2 to 3 hours at double speed, nonstop.

2. Put them in your car, accelerate to 75 mph, then slam on the brakes. Tell them that's what an F1 car feels like simply letting off the gas....BEFORE you actually hit the brakes.

3. Ask them if they think long distance runners are athletes. If they say yes, point out that distance running requires none of the hand-eye coordination of racing, nor much of the mental stamina. Nor does it require much in the way of physical strength.

4. Tell them to lay on the floor sideways, and then balance a 25lb. weight on their face with their neck straight out. That is the strength required by your neck in a high-G corner in F1.

5. Bruce Jenner was the epitome of the well rounded, world class athlete. He won the Decathelon. After that, he embarked on a racing career in lesser series than F1 (SCCA Trans-Am, IMSA GTO, IMSA GT). Aside from the races where he was carried by a very quick Scott Pruett, he raced with little distinction mid-pack for the balance of his career....despite what his glowing wikipedia entry claims.

Now, shouldn't a world class athlete like that be able to stomp on the rest of the field if the other guys weren't athletes? Apparently not. Racing isn't as easy as it sounds.