And issues are solely set to worsen as your entire circus transits to Abu Dhabi subsequent weekend, going by a 12-hour shift ahead in time.
Whereas the entire paddock is in the identical boat, the main target is inevitably on the drivers. They could get pleasure from personal jet or enterprise class journey and have physios taking care of their each want, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a wrestle to be 100% rested and ready.
And that’s why it may develop into an space of aggressive benefit over these subsequent two races, presumably the hardest confronted by the championship in recent times, the place drivers who do a greater job coping with the hectic schedule may reap the rewards.
“Whenever you’re right here, it isn’t a lot an issue,” stated Purple Bull driver Max Verstappen. “However then we now have to fly to Abu Dhabi, the place it is already 12 hours distinction, however then additionally a very totally different time zone.
“Principally, we reside on a Japanese time schedule, however then nearly a distinct day. So I do not actually get that. I imply, that could be very tiring, and likewise on the finish of this season that we now have to do that. It would not actually make plenty of sense.”
“It’ll be large time distinction, and we’ll most likely face jet lag,” stated Nico Hulkenberg. “Some undergo greater than others. It is going to be a problem, and perhaps you are not going to really feel tremendous sharp on Friday or Saturday. However I believe it is identical for all of us, and we now have to handle and cope the most effective we are able to.”
Fernando Alonso, the oldest driver on the grid on the age of 42, doesn’t agree with the schedule however believes drivers haven’t any different selection than to cope with the demanding calendar.
“No, it isn’t OK, it isn’t OK,” he stated. “But it surely’s the best way it’s. It’s a tricky sport. This isn’t soccer…”
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Alonso has not been impressed by the Las Vegas schedule
The drivers usually are not alone. The arrival of the primary night time race in Singapore in 2008 led F1 groups to concentrate on sleep patterns for crews, and over time they’ve paid increasingly more consideration to the difficulty, receiving medical recommendation on easy methods to handle sleep.
Driver physios have additionally develop into nicely versed in easy methods to take care of their expenses, placing them on regimes that assist.
“Normally when we now have night time races like Singapore, it is fairly simple,” stated Esteban Ocon. “As a result of Singapore, we simply do not shift, we simply keep on European time and reside on night time time. Right here, it is very totally different.
“And it is also later than Singapore, so you do not see the daylight for 4 days. That is the very first thing. So for the human physique, that is not nice. You are missing nutritional vitamins from the solar and all the opposite issues.
“Normally we do the American journey, with Austin, Mexico, Brazil, then come again to Europe to get again to the time zone for Abu Dhabi.
“This time I got here again to Europe, however I used to be nonetheless dwelling on Brazilian time attempting to shift as a lot as I may. So I did not have high quality time, as an instance, in Europe.
“I could not see a lot of my household or have regular occasions. That is tremendous, nevertheless it’s difficult to arrange, and that you must actually put effort into it to mainly really feel good right here. I really feel good right here, as a result of I’ve carried out what I wanted to do.
“But it surely’s been 5 weeks dwelling on odd timings, let’s put it like that. So most likely the hardest one since I’ve joined F1, I’d say.”
Photograph by: Jake Grant / Motorsport Images
Russell sees jetlag in his rivals as a possible alternative out on observe
As famous the tough state of affairs could possibly be seen as a transparent alternative for drivers to attempt to achieve a bonus, and that’s precisely how Mercedes driver George Russell views it.
“For everyone it has been a reasonably brutal change coming to right here,” he stated. “And I sort of see it as a possibility, as a result of most individuals look drained and are struggling, and speaking about it. However when you do a greater job than your opponents, it offers you that benefit.
“I am simply type of shifting one hour per day. And it should be like a steady shift for most likely two weeks in a row from once I began shifting the physique clock Friday final week. And I am simply going to repeatedly shift till Sunday subsequent week.
“That is most likely been a little bit of a problem this season, particularly once you have a look at Singapore/Japan back-to-back. Regardless that the time zone distinction is not an excessive amount of, Singapore being an evening race and Japan early, it was successfully an eight-hour shift.
“The back-and-forth, Miami to Europe, Canada to Europe, Australia again residence, the physique’s been far and wide. So undoubtedly one thing I will be placing much more concentrate on subsequent yr.”
This being F1, it’s all concerning the numbers and Russell says he makes use of biometric information to evaluate his progress.
“From the disruptions of the time zone, my coronary heart fee throughout an evening’s sleep is on common about 25% larger than it will be once I’m in a constant location,” says the Mercedes driver.
“I spent two weeks in a single location this summer season, which is the longest I’ve spent in three years, and my coronary heart charges was the bottom it is ever been.
Photograph by: Jake Grant / Motorsport Images
Ocon is anxious concerning the wellbeing of his mechanics
“Winter is all the time type of stabilising in a low place. After which as quickly as you journey, it will increase, however undoubtedly sleeping much less, recovering much less, which is all pure once you’re leaping throughout. It isn’t only a feeling, there’s undoubtedly information to again that up.”
It’s not simply concerning the drivers, both, and whether or not it’s a mechanic altering a wheel or a strategist making a race-defining name, there’s little margin for error.
“I am actually extra involved for the blokes within the storage which might be working,” provides Ocon.
“We handle ourselves as a workforce, however there are extra folks taking care of me than for a number of the guys. That is the place it is essential to take care of one another so much, as a result of individuals are struggling the paddock.
“We’re nicely ready. Now we have good data with a number of the greatest specialists in jet lag. Tom [Clark, his physio] is doing his PhD in jet lag in the intervening time. So we’re fairly sturdy on that.
“However I’ve seen folks combating and nearly falling asleep within the conferences, as a result of it isn’t a straightforward factor.”