Revving up to the echelons of Formula 1 racing is no walk in the pit lane; it’s a steep climb requiring the ultimate in athletic prowess and a will of steel. F1 drivers are often lauded as some of the most finely tuned athletes in the sporting world, their fitness levels a cut above the rest. But have you ever peeled back the cockpit and wondered how these speed maestros, like the thundering force of nature Max Verstappen, maintain their prime form?
Claiming the World Drivers’ Championship crown not once but thrice, Verstappen, the Belgian-Dutch star waving the Dutch flag for Red Bull Racing, epitomizes such tenacity. With a neck built to withstand g-forces that would make even the bravest quiver, one glimpse of a viral clip showing Verstappen’s neck workout — a spectacle more grueling than the plot of Brad Pitt’s big-screen homage to the sport — it becomes clear: achieving this Herculean neck strength is not a cakewalk.
Pain & Gain: Max Verstappen’s Neck Training Regimen Can Shock You
With the physically demanding nature of the sport and the grueling schedule of the championship, F1 drivers need to be in peak physical condition to stay at the top of their game. And it’s not just about being fit for race day – it’s a year-round commitment to staying switched on, healthy, and happy throughout the longest season in the championship’s history.
Just ask three-time F1 World Champion Max Verstappen, whose father always emphasized the importance of being strong enough to never tire in the car. Verstappen may not enjoy training for training’s sake, but he knows that staying fit is essential for success in the sport. In his words (via Redbull):
My father always said: you can never be tired in the car because then you are not strong enough. I don’t like to train in and of itself, but I do know what I need to do to be fit. It isn’t nice, but I just do it.
As a Belgian and Dutch racing driver competing for Red Bull Racing, Verstappen has claimed three Formula One World Drivers’ Championship titles in consecutive years.
Verstappen, like many F1 drivers, undergoes intense training to ensure he is at peak physical and mental power. With the help of a Performance Coach, drivers are put through rigorous workouts to build the strength and endurance necessary to handle the physical demands of the sport. One viral video of Verstappen training his neck showcases just how intense and painful the training can be. F1 drivers’ necks need to be exceptionally strong to withstand the forces they experience while driving through corners at high speeds.
And they say F1 drivers are not true athletes? Fans were clearly impressed by this, as evidenced by their flurry of comments:
And they say f1 drivers aren’t real athletes. -nikos.r_
No wonder he’s the greatest at this time. Let’s go Max. -@judyxr11
F1 training is no joke. -@that_boy1350
IT’S JUST UNFAIR! He pushed me… off the track. -@annatatlin
Now this is a high performance athlete. –@_.s4shaa
Building up neck muscles involves hanging weights from the neck and using resistance bands to simulate lateral forces. To increase endurance and prevent injury, Australian-Italian racing driver Daniel Ricciardo—who has eight Grand Prix victories and thirty-two podium finishes—suggests beginning with mild neck exercises (via Redbull).
The Intense Workout that Powered Brad Pitt’s F1 Movie Preparation
Even Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt, who will portray a washed-up racer in an upcoming F1 film–helmed by Joseph Kosinski, understands the importance of intense training for handling g-forces. Well, after seeing Max Verstappen’s neck training regimen, it is difficult to believe Pitt might be executing the same.
In the film, Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes, comes out of retirement to race against a young phenom in a last-placed team. With the help of his friend, played by Javier Bardem, Sonny’s journey is sure to be full of twists and turns. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer recently talked about Pitt’s skill behind the wheel and the actor’s training for the racing film. The former told People:
He trained for four or five months. He’s an amazing driver. In fact, some of the F1 drivers said he’s a natural athlete. He really is. He’s amazing in that car.
The icing on the cake, according to Kosinski, is that Pitt will actually drive those racing cars (via Deadline). In the fast-paced world of F1 racing, staying fit is not just a choice; it’s a necessity for success.
F1 is scheduled to release on June 27, 2025.
