Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton says F1 is an extreme sport and should stay so

AUSTIN – Formula One is an extreme sport and needs to stay so, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said in response to concern about driver safety after a gruelling Qatar Grand Prix on Oct 8.

The 38-year-old Mercedes driver told reporters ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix that racing should not be allowed to get “too soft”.

The Briton crashed out of the race at Lusail

after a first-corner collision with teammate George Russell, who finished the race and said it had been beyond the limit of what was acceptable because of the heat. Temperatures in the cockpit neared 50 deg C, according to CNN, while track temperatures were above 35 deg C.

“I didn’t get to feel the pain that the drivers felt but I’ve been here a long time and (now discontinued) Malaysia was much hotter than that race was,” Hamilton said.

“And I know what it’s like to lose four or more kilos in a race and barely be able to stand up.

“But my feeling towards it is this is an extreme sport. You don’t have marathon runners who are passing out after the marathon saying you’ve got to make it shorter. This is an extreme sport and we are paid very highly for what we do.”

Hamilton added that his perspective was that when he did not feel great after finishing a race, he saw it as a message to train harder.

“I don’t personally want them to shorten the races and make it easier for us,” he said.

“I want it to be extreme, I want to feel the difference, I want to feel pain in my body... it’s like ‘let’s not get too soft’. We’re supposed to be elite athletes. To be elite, you need to be pushing to the limit.”

Some of those racing in the heat on Oct 8 ended up on the verge of collapse, vomiting and severely dehydrated after the chequered flag, while Williams rookie Logan Sargeant felt too ill to continue and stopped.

The governing FIA said afterwards that it was looking into the situation “to provide recommendations for future situations of extreme weather conditions”.

“The FIA notes with concern that the extreme temperature and humidity during the Qatar Grand Prix had an impact on the well-being of drivers,” a statement read. “While being elite athletes, they should not be expected to compete under conditions that could jeopardise their health or safety.”

Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, who said he almost passed out during the race, told reporters on Thursday it had taken him “a good few days” to feel 100 per cent again. REUTERS