How Many G’s Do F1 Drivers Experience?
Formula 1 drivers race at the highest level of motorsports, pushing their cars and themselves to the edge of what's possible. A big part of reaching these speeds is dealing with strong G-forces - or gravitational forces - while they speed up, slow down, or drive around corners.
Most people only ever feel 1G in everyday life, but F1 drivers often deal with forces many times higher. This article breaks down what G-forces are in Formula 1, how much drivers feel during a race, how these forces affect their bodies, and what they do to manage these extreme conditions.
What is G-Force in Formula 1?
What Does G-Force Mean?
G-force, short for gravitational force, is a basic science idea that shows how much force is put on something when it speeds up, slows down, or changes direction. It’s measured in units called 'g'. 1g equals the pull of Earth’s gravity, about 9.81 m/s².
Everyone feels G-forces day to day. For example, you notice G-force when you get pushed back into your seat as a car accelerates, or thrown forward when it brakes suddenly. You also feel G-force on rollercoasters or during a plane’s takeoff.
In Formula 1, these everyday forces are much stronger, so drivers need to be incredibly fit to handle them.
How G-Force Happens in F1 Racing
G-forces in Formula 1 are the intense forces drivers feel as they speed up, brake very hard, or take corners at high speeds. F1 cars are built with powerful engines (about 1,000 horsepower), and their shapes are designed to press them down onto the track, increasing grip. Special tires also help the car hold the road, even at speeds over 350 km/h. All of this adds up to very high G-forces.
Drivers mainly feel G-forces during three things: speeding up, slowing down, and turning. Each causes the driver’s body to feel force in a different direction and at a different strength. Knowing how these work is very important for both safety and performance.
Engineers also focus on how G-forces affect the car and driver to make sure everything works as safely and quickly as possible.
How Many G’s Do F1 Drivers Feel in a Race?
General G-Forces During a Race
During races, F1 drivers often face G-forces between 4 and 6 Gs in the most difficult situations. Most of the time, the G-forces they deal with are around 2G to 3G, but these numbers can change depending on the track and car settings. Driving with these strong forces for 1.5 to 2 hours is very hard physically, so drivers must be in excellent shape.
As F1 cars have become faster over the years, the G-forces have gone up. At first, cars didn’t go fast enough to create much more than 2g. In the 1980s, stronger engines and better aerodynamics increased this to about 4g.
Modern F1 cars can create up to 6g in corners or heavy braking, and it’s possible this could rise to 7 or 8G in the future.
Highest G-Forces During Acceleration, Braking, and Cornering
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Acceleration: When F1 cars speed up, drivers usually feel between 2 and 4 Gs. For example, going from 0 to 100 km/h in just a few seconds can give a driver about 3 to 4 Gs, pushing them back into their seat.
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Braking: When they slow down quickly, G-forces can jump to 5 or 6 Gs and sometimes even 6.5 Gs in extreme cases. This force tries to throw the driver forward. The effect is so strong that it can even pull tears out of a driver’s eyes under hard braking.
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Cornering: Turning at high speed gives the largest G-forces, often between 4 and 6.5 Gs sideways. A fast corner like Turn One at Suzuka can reach over 5G, meaning a 70 kg driver feels a force equal to 350 kg pulling them sideways - about as heavy as a grand piano.
|
Action |
Typical G-Force |
|
Acceleration |
2 - 4 G |
|
Braking |
5 - 6.5 G |
|
Cornering |
4 - 6.5 G |
Biggest G-Force Impacts in F1 History
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Romain Grosjean (2020, Bahrain): Suffered a 67g crash in a fireball, but escaped with only burns on his hands.
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Max Verstappen (2021, Silverstone): Hit the barrier at 51g after a crash with Lewis Hamilton, but was not badly hurt.
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Ralf Schumacher (2004, USA): Survived a 78g crash with just minor back injuries.
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David Purley (1977): Lived through an impact of around 179.8g after his throttle stuck and he stopped from 173 km/h in just 66 cm. One of the largest G-forces ever survived.
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Jules Bianchi (2014, Japan): Experienced the highest recorded F1 G-force of 254g in a crash, which sadly led to his death the following year. This case led to many new safety efforts.
Which Forces Affect F1 Drivers Most?
Side (Lateral) G-Forces in Fast Corners
Lateral G-forces are those that push a driver sideways in corners. They are especially hard on F1 drivers, pressing them against the side of the cockpit and making their heads feel several times heavier.
In turns like Suzuka’s Turn One, Spa’s Eau Rouge, or the Maggots-Becketts at Silverstone, these forces can reach 5G or more, making drivers’ necks work extra hard just to hold their heads up. Drivers need a strong core too, as the car changes direction fast and control needs to be perfect to avoid mistakes.
Forces from Braking and Acceleration (Longitudinal)
Longitudinal G-forces act on the driver as the car speeds up or slows down. Under hard braking, drivers can face up to 5 or 6 Gs, throwing them forward and making it tough to stay steady.
When accelerating quickly, drivers feel 2 to 4 Gs pushing them back in their seats. Altogether, drivers face a mix of sideways and forward/backward forces each lap, which is very tiring and demands great physical fitness.
How Do G-Forces Affect F1 Drivers’ Bodies?
Physical Strain on Neck and Core
Strong G-forces make the neck and core muscles of drivers work extremely hard. In a high-speed turn, a driver's head can feel up to five times heavier, putting a lot of pressure on their neck. Strong core muscles help keep their body steady and allow them to stay in good position.
If not well prepared, drivers might have trouble breathing, get blood pooling in their legs, or even start to black out for a moment (called 'G-LOC'). Tiredness from these forces can slow their reactions, which matter a lot in a sport decided by milliseconds.
Short- and Long-Term Effects
Short term, G-forces can make F1 drivers’ muscles tired, cause headaches, sore eyes, and dizziness. If G-forces change suddenly, they might even lose vision or black out briefly. Their heart also has to work harder to keep blood flowing.
Doing this over and over can lead to issues like back pain, sore joints, and even minor injuries to the neck or spine. However, with good training, safety gear, and rest routines, drivers can limit these problems and stay healthy.
What Can Humans Handle?
The highest G-force most people can handle is about 9G - but only for a moment. Most would feel dizzy or sick at just 5-6G. F1 drivers are able to handle higher Gs through training.
Accidents above 100G are usually deadly, although extremely rare cases, like the 254G that killed Jules Bianchi, go far beyond what anyone can survive. The direction and how quickly the force happens also affect survival.
How Do F1 Drivers Train for High G-Forces?
Neck and Core Strength Workouts
Drivers train hard to get ready for G-forces, focusing especially on the neck and core. Many F1 drivers have noticeably strong necks from lifting weights - for example, George Russell can hang 30 kg from his head, and it’s said Fernando Alonso can crack a walnut with his neck!
Training includes things like neck weight exercises, using bands to pull their head sideways, and wearing heavy helmets to copy the feeling of a race. Strengthening the core helps them stay balanced and react quickly.
Endurance and Reaction Training
Besides muscle training, drivers work on their endurance with cardio workouts and high-intensity interval training (HIIT), as racing is non-stop action for up to two hours.
They also use exercises for reflexes and practice in simulators to get used to the race conditions. These practices help them control their breathing and stay calm when forces are at their highest during a race.
How is F1 Driver Safety Increased Against G-Forces?
HANS Device and Helmet Technology
Several pieces of safety equipment help protect drivers from strong G-forces. The HANS device is a collar that fits around the neck, attached to the helmet, which keeps the head steady in a crash and stops neck injuries.
Modern helmets are also made with very tough but light materials and are checked to make sure they can withstand big impacts.
Car Safety Features
The main part of an F1 car, called the monocoque, surrounds and protects the driver. It’s made from carbon fiber, which is strong yet light. Cars are also built with crumple zones that absorb crash energy and advanced seatbelts to stop drivers from moving during heavy G-forces.
The 'Halo' is a metal ring above the cockpit that keeps large objects away from the driver’s head and can handle huge forces. All these features work together to keep drivers as safe as possible.
How Do G-Forces in F1 Compare to Other Motorsports and Everyday Life?
Other Racing Series Compared to F1
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NASCAR: Drivers face around 3 Gs in a corner, which is less than F1’s 4-6.5 Gs.
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MotoGP: Riders feel about 5 Gs when speeding up and up to 6 Gs when braking, but their cornering G-forces are normally less than F1 due to the way motorcycles lean into turns.
F1 cars have a lot of downforce, which means they grip the track better, allowing them to go through turns faster and feel stronger G-forces than in other series.
Daily Experiences with G-Force
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In a Car: Rapid acceleration or hard braking can make you feel 0.5 to 1g.
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Elevators: Feeling heavier when going up and lighter when going down is due to G-force.
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Rollercoasters: Some rides create around 5 Gs, similar to F1.
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Planes: Take-off and landing give positive and negative G-forces you can feel in your seat.
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Sneezing: Your head can experience about 2g with a big sneeze.
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Rugby Tackles: Tackle impacts can sometimes reach 21g.
Even though we feel some G-force every day, it is much lower and less demanding than what F1 drivers manage every lap.
Frequently Asked Questions about G-forces in F1
What's the highest G-force an F1 driver has survived?
One of the biggest impacts recorded in F1 was when David Purley lived through a 179.8g crash in 1977. Romain Grosjean also survived a 67g incident in 2020, and Ralf Schumacher went through a 78g crash in 2004. These cases show both advancements in F1 safety and how tough the human body can be in these situations.
Can F1 drivers black out from G-forces?
Yes, F1 drivers can sometimes black out for a moment if G-forces are too high, because blood moves away from their brain. Special training and breathing methods help them stay conscious, and equipment like the HANS device helps keep them safe too.
Why don’t F1 drivers usually get long-term injuries from G-forces?
F1 drivers avoid lasting injuries from most G-forces because they train heavily to prepare, the cars and equipment protect them well, and the strongest forces never last long. They also have careful routines to recover after each race. Serious crashes still happen sometimes, but safety has come a long way in protecting drivers’ health.