Formula One slimmers?

Sir,

The current troubles in Formula One concerning minimum car weights makes me again wonder why little mention is ever made of the drivers’ weights.

I can only recollect ever having seen one reference on this subject some years back, when the point was made that the lighter drivers must have a considerable advantage as long as they possessed the physical strength to last race distances.

As the current battle to remain competitive with the turbos becomes even more frantic, will we see the Cosworth fraternity filling their cars with Willie Carson types or, come to that, midget Frenchmen?

Perhaps drivers should also be of a standard weight á la horse racing: we could then be treated to post-race scrutineering with dehydrated drivers being encouraged by their managers to top up with essential fluids.

Mind you the likes of Alan Jones would become even more valuable assets because, as well as physical strength, given a crate of “Fosters” he could easily top up with a couple of gallons to attain the standard weight.

Seriously though has anyone thought of the advantage of light drivers. It must make some difference, surely.

Odiham, Hants
J. H. Pratt