F1 drivers, like the rest of us, require a drink from time to time during races, but what liquid can they consume while on the track? Driving a Formula 1 car can be extremely taxing. Whether it’s from pulling G-forces or sweating on a hot, sticky summer day, drivers may require a drink to rehydrate and stay sharp.
It’s not as simple as pulling into the pits and requesting a cold bottle of water (more on that later), so what do F1 drivers drink during races?
What Do F1 Drivers Drink?
Drivers will consume fluids such as water prior to a race to ensure they are properly hydrated before getting into the car.
During the race, a tube connected to a drinks bottle in the cockpit feeds into their mouth. During races, F1 drivers drink glucose, mineral, and electrolyte-rich liquid designed to release energy and keep the driver alert and fighting.
It’s been described as a warm, salty solution that doesn’t taste good, with some drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, refusing to touch it during the race.
Beware Of The Drink
If you’re Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari will frequently forget to connect the drink, resulting in a memorable radio exchange at the 2018 Hungarian Grand Prix. On a more serious note, because the drinks bottle is in the cockpit, it can get extremely hot.
Kevin Magnussen learned the hard way at the 2014 Singapore Grand Prix, one of the most difficult races on the calendar due to the heavy workload surrounding the two-hour race in humid conditions. The drink bottle of the now-Haas F1 driver overheated and began to burn Dane’s mouth as he tried to drink from it.
Magnussen battled on and salvaged a tenth-place finish – good for a single world championship point. Drivers could use the longer pitstops for colder drinks back when refueling was available. Juan Pablo Montoya pulled into the Williams pit for a planned stop during the sweltering early days of the Bahrain Grand Prix – and proceeded to chug a bottle of water while his car was serviced.
