The latest F1 season began in March, and it brought with it a faster and fitter Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari driver relies on a precise nutritional strategy to fuel his performance for the Miami Grand Prix. Leclerc consumes small portions of white fish or chicken paired with rice to manage the physical demands of racing.

During the Chinese Grand Prix, the 28-year-old Ferrari star appeared on the To Do Show, where he revealed that he eats the same thing before every race,

"Proteins, either white fish or chicken, but in quite small quantities, and a little bit of carbohydrates, so probably rice is the easier one to digest before getting into a Formula 1 car. These are the two things that I eat before getting into an F1 car."

Now, eating something right before driving your car at 300 km/h seems like an invitation to nausea and vomiting, but if Leclerc can handle the G-force, he can handle anything. But this is just a small part of a full routine that Leclerc follows.

Over the years, Leclerc has tried different diet routines, be it a vegetarian diet or a keto diet. According to his dietitian, all he needs to do is follow a clean and consistent, well-balanced diet plan and have as much variation within that balance. 

How does Charles Leclerc prepare for F1?

Leclerc revealed that there are three elements to his routine, one for each aspect. The jump rope (training), the cold bath (recovery), and the diet (nutrition). Here is the full breakdown of his training:

• Neck Training: If you are an F1 fan, then you probably know the importance of managing the G-force. Leclerc uses specialized machines and resistance bands to strengthen his neck so that it can manage the impact of G-force during high-speed turns.
• Cardio: Being an F1 driver doesn't only mean you need to be a skilled driver; you need to be physically fit. And one of the ways Leclerc has found to complete his cardio is via biking or skiing for 3-5 hours in the winter. Another way to get the heart pumping is to do a 900-meter sprint and then hop on the treadmill with a VO2 max to measure oxygen delivery to the muscles during training. 
• Strength & Core training: Besides spending time in the gym, another form of strength and stability training includes paddle tennis.
• Recovery: A critical element in Charles Leclerc's routine is to have a 40-45 minute midday nap to improve his sleep quality. Another thing that he does is cryotherapy and ice baths to improve physical and cognitive function
• Mental training: Drills, football, and dual-tasking to sharpen focus and reaction times

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil