Force India’s Paul di Resta, who weighs in at 11st 9lb, is another driver
uncertain about his future.
Red Bull’s Mark Webber responded to the speculation by tweeting his sympathy
for heavier drivers, claiming that he has been starving himself for years
and adding that the perfect driver weight was now between 9st 6lb and 10st
3lb (60-65kg).
The Australian, 6ft tall, weighs around 11st 11lb compared with his team-mate Sebastian
Vettel who is 5ft 9in and weighs 10st. “Haven’t eaten for last 5
years!” Webber wrote. “Min weight been to [sic] low since for ages. Perfect
driver now weight 60/65kg.”
The issue of driver weight is a long-standing one in Formula
One, as it is with jockeys in horse racing.
David Coulthard admitted to suffering from bulimia as a teenager as he
struggled to make his way in the sport. While Button said he was in no
danger of developing an eating disorder, he admitted that he fasts before
each race and “never” eats carbohydrates.
The 2009 world champion said that it was high time drivers put self-interest
aside to create “a level playing field” ahead of next year’s step-change in
the regulations.
The introduction in 2014 of new turbocharged engines allied to heavier, more
powerful energy recovery systems has already seen the governing body
increase the minimum weight limit of the cars plus drivers to 642kg to
690kg.
However, the extra 48kg will almost certainly be taken up by the new power
units, meaning even less leeway for drivers than at present. Lighter drivers
currently have the luxury of being able to move ballast around the car in
order to bring it up to the minimum weight.
Button, one of the leanest drivers on the grid, claimed that he was already
“on the limit” in his McLaren at just 11st and had sometimes stepped over
it. “I have about six per cent body fat and I am on the limit in our car,”
he said. “I couldn’t be heavier than I am so I fast before the race.
“I don’t eat carbohydrates at all. I eat limited amounts of food and it
is always high in protein and no carbs. And this is all of the time — all
year.”
Asked whether bulimia or anorexia might be an issue, Button added: “No chance
for me because I love food. I would rather eat than become ill.
“The problem is that it will stop people looking at taller drivers in the
future. You could have a very talented driver who could be missed for his
height and weight even if he is the fittest and skinniest driver ever to be
in a racing car. If he is over the weight by five kilos that is 0.2
secs-a-lap and it is the end of your career basically.
“It needs to change now. To be fair, we [the drivers] should have pushed
harder on that. I think the drivers would rather have a level playing field.
It is not a safety issue and it should be an easy thing to change: just put
[the minimum weight] up five or 10kg.”
Button conceded that some drivers and teams would not be as keen as others.
“Some teams might not want to change the weight because they have light
drivers and know they can make a light car and engine package,” he said.
“That might be us [McLaren] but we should all agree to be fair and raise the
weights. I would love to be able to eat again.
“In the past three years, I have probably had four races where I have lost
half-a-tenth or a tenth of a second because I have been overweight. It
sounds small but in qualifying that could be a position or two and in the
race it could be five or six seconds.
“It is a big deal and something that goes unnoticed.”
Lewis
Hamilton produced an amusing aside to the issue by suggesting only
drastic action could enable him to reach Webber’s ideal driver weight.
He said: “I weigh about 71kg [11st 2lb]. I was never 65kg [10st 3lb]. I was
68kg [10st 10lb] last year but I have put on three kilos since then. The
guys have not told me to do that [lose weight].
“I actually want to put on another kilo of muscle! I think Michael
[Schumacher] was 78kg [12st 4lb] with all his kit and Adrian Sutil was 82kg
[12st 12lb]. I am not going to be 65kg unless I cut my nuts off.”
Size matters – where Formula One drivers stand on the scales
Lightweights
Sebastian Vettel 64kg (10st), 176cm (5ft 9in)
Nico Rosberg 66kg (10st 5lb), 178cm (5ft 10in)
Middleweights
Jenson Button 70kg (11st), 183cm (6ft)
Lewis Hamilton 71kg (11st 2lb), 174cm (5ft 8 1/2in)
Heavyweights
Nico Hülkenberg 74kg (11st 9lb), 184cm (6ft)
Paul di Resta 74kg (11st 9lb), 185cm (6ft 1in)
Mark Webber 75kg (11st 11lb), 184cm (6ft)