WATCH: Can a regular person drive a Formula 1 car? Find out in this video by Sam Fane / VINwiki on YouTube.
At first glance, it might seem simple just to drive an F1 car, if not race with it. But these beasts are some of the fastest machines on the planet for a reason, and taking them around for a ride can even take a toll on you physically. The G-forces need to be withstood consistently while driving a Formula 1 car, and it is much, much, tougher than it sounds.
Additionally, it takes a gigantic effort to master the brakes, which directly impact your tyre performance. For the brakes to listen to you, the tyres need to be warmed up to an optimum temperature. And this is no easy task. One needs to drive really hard to get a grip on the car and generate aerodynamic downforce.
Formula 1 drivers generally warm up their cars by doing zig-zag movements during the formation lap, before the red lights go out. This becomes a bigger problem in places that have low track temperatures. Tyres heat up while taking the corners, while cooldown on the open straights. For a regular human being, this might be too much to handle, considering even the supremely talented F1 drivers find it difficult to ace it.
Where can I drive a Formula 1 car?
Yes, you can drive one! Whether that is a modern F1 car or a vintage from the last century all depends on the agency you contact. One such agency is Ultimate Driving Tours, which is offering a drive in a 600HP Cosworth engine at France.
Sam Fane of the very popular VINwiki Youtube channel was lucky enough to fulfill his dream of driving an F1 car. It was as part of an Infiniti campaign at the French GP Paul Ricard Circuit, renowned for its association with the Renault F1 team.
Also read F1 Pit Crew Salary: How much do members of a Formula 1 team pit crew earn in 2021?
