F1 drivers have different pre-race rituals they follow before the start of every single Grand Prix. Some of these rituals are different and may sound bizarre to many, especially if it includes a seven-time world champion peeing in his race suit before every outing. This is something that Michael Schumacher used to do, according to Lewis Hamilton.
In 2016, when Hamilton appeared as a guest for the Ellen DeGeneres show, the latter asked him the age-old question. Do F1 stars pee in their race suits during the race itself? To this, Hamilton insisted that he has never faced a situation as bad as having to pee in his own suit. However, a certain seven-time world champion going by the name Schumacher considered it a part of his pre-race ritual.
Hamilton revealed that drivers are supposed to do their business in the race suit itself. But, it has always been something he has refrained from. Schumacher on the other hand, peed every single time he was in the car.
Michael Schumacher peed in his race suit every time
Lewis Hamilton told Ellen DeGeneres that he never peed in his race suit, but his mechanics told him about Schumacher, who did it without fail. Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013, and until the year before he joined, Schumacher was a driver for the German team.
“The driver that used to drive for the team, was Michael Schumacher,” said Hamilton as quoted by The Mirror. “I don’t know if anyone’s heard of him, but legend racing driver, but my mechanics told me he peed every single time he was in the car.”
Out of all pre-race rituals several drivers have this one seems to be the most bizarre of them all. But well, if it won Michael Schumacher seven world championships, then no one can complain that it didn’t work!
Other drivers have their take on Lewis Hamilton question
Hamilton insisted that he never relieved himself in his race suit, but the question still remains. What do drivers do when they have to go to the bathroom during races? If it is a practice session, drivers (ask Charles Leclerc) can come in for a quick bathroom break, but during a grueling two-hour long race, that isn’t possible.
charles: can i go to the toilet?
xavi: yes, you can!he really needed to go to the toilet 😭😭 https://t.co/J5ByapCdCD
— clara (@leclercsletters) April 1, 2023
Daniel Ricciardo gave the simplest but most logical answer to this. As reported by The Sun, the honey badger simply holds it in until the race stops. However, it isn’t as easy as it sounds, with Ricciardo giving a good explanation as to why its not.
“If you need to go, it just stings,” Ricciardo said. “I’ve heard some have gone during a race, before. One has not. I couldn’t. You know, you’re so tense, it’s just hard to go.”
