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Russell calls for standard cockpit sizes

Russell calls for standard cockpit sizes

05-04-2019 14:27
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Jake Williams-Smith

F1 rookie George Russell says standard cockpit sizes should become a rule in Formula 1. The Briton is one of the tallest drivers on the grid and with that comes a weight disadvantage.

In 2019, F1 introduced rules that would require the cars to be weighted separately from the drivers with the drivers themselves now required to meet an 80kg minimum mandated weight.

The rule, designed at eliminating the disadvantage to taller drivers, is a good first step according to the Williams driver but he believes that F1 could do more to further even the playing field.

"I’ve always been on the lighter side and over Christmas I put on about six kilos,” said Russell.

“Not just from the turkey, but also from the gym. I just feel much healthier for it.

“I’m a normal size, normal shape. I’m almost six [foot] two and last year I was 66 kilos. So I’m now 72, 73 kilos and I just feel I’ve got more energy, I feel better. I’m sure my girlfriend would argue I look better as well! So it's very beneficial in more ways than not.

“F1 really needed that and I think probably the next step is to make the cockpits a standard size across all cars because still there is benefits if you’re a smaller driver [to] cram everything tighter so you’ve got more room to do whatever you want. You can bring the radiators closer in. It’s a never-ending story.

“I know in Formula 2 and Formula 3 they’ve just got a standard size to fit a driver of 192 centimetres. At the end of the day you guys probably won’t notice, the fans won’t notice, but it’s definitely going in the right direction.”