Imagine losing 1,500 calories and up to 5% of your body weight every time you get in the car—this is what F1 drivers experience. Formula One drivers frequently face severe weight loss and nutritional deficiencies after races, making their diets exceptionally important. They each keep nutritionists on retainer, choking down protein shakes and foods high in whole grains to sustain their bodies for the duration of demanding races.
However, this could be said of most athletes. All sports require a certain level of fitness from their competitors—not just F1. What is special to F1 is drivers’ particular food interests and phobias; Yuki Tsunoda and Lando Norris are good case studies of these.
A well-known foodie within Formula 1, Tsunoda has stated in several interviews that his interest in food culture is the result of his upbringing in Japan, where he was frequently exposed to high-quality dishes. Upon coming to the UK, he sought out the same level of flavor and complexity, becoming a “foodie” in the process. In an interview with Redbull, Tsunoda shared his favorite foods from each of the countries he has lived in, including Fondue from Switzerland, fish and chips from the United Kingdom, penne arrabiata (a type of pasta) from Italy, and various traditional japanese dishes from his home country, from sukiyaki to simply “various types of ramen.”
Lando Norris, meanwhile, falls on the opposite side of the spectrum. Comfortable in what he knows, Norris is not a fan of fish or sushi of any kind. This was clearly on display during a viral interview he did with his former (then current) teammate, Carlos Sainz. Eating sushi together, Sainz attempted to offer Norris a bite of a California roll, which includes no seafood of any kind. Lando refused the offer, exclaiming “it’s near a fish!” to Carlos’ chagrin. Sainz went so far as to offer to let Lando by “at the start of the race on Sunday,” but the younger teammate was unconvinced.
