Grosjean: Minimum driver weight rule will 'make life an awful lot better'

  • Published on 19 Oct 2018 11:35
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Romain Grosjean says that he believes the new rules regarding the weight of drivers is a “great thing”. From the start of next season, the drivers will be weighed with their seat and driving equipment and then ballasted until they reach a minimum weight of 80kg. 

In the past, the rules regarding the weight of drivers have made it very difficult for the taller drivers in the field, as they have had to go on extreme diet plans in order to meet the weight requirements. The new rules aim to make it fair for all drivers, with Marcus Ericsson and Esteban Ocon good examples of the type of driver this will benefit.  

Grosjean said: “I think it hasn’t been great to starve ourselves and not eat as want to, so a few kilos of margin is going to be great. It will be a challenge for the team, because getting to the minimum weight for the regulation with the 80 kilos seat and driver together is going to be tricky. But on the other hand it’s going to make our lives an awful lot better.” 

Grosjean is not the only driver with an opinion regarding the minimum weight, with both Daniel Riccardo and Fernando Alonso expressing their support for the changes.  

Riccardo said: “A lot of us now tend to starve ourselves on race weekends. Even training, we can’t really do much strength training because we would just put on mass. I think it will just allow us to train harder, eat more. But it’s not like we’re going to have beer bellies or anything, we’re just going to be stronger and I think that’s only a good thing.” 

Alonso added: “I’m obviously not one of the tallest, so it’s more a question for the tall guys. I think it’s fair for everyone, so I think it’s good. In other series, in WEC in particular, where the weight is free, that normally gives and advantage to the lighter and smaller guys, and probably that is unfair in a way, so I think Formula 1 is doing great on that.” 

"I think it hasn’t been great to starve ourselves and not eat as want to" Lol! For a guy trained in french culinary arts, it must have been real hard!

  • 1
  • Oct 19 2018 - 17:24

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • "I think it hasn’t been great to starve ourselves and not eat as want to" Lol! For a guy trained in french culinary arts, it must have been real hard!

    • + 1
    • Oct 19 2018 - 17:24
  • I only think this can be an improvement.

    • + 0
    • Oct 19 2018 - 17:57

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 518
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 147
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (42)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
Show full profile
show sidebar