Do F1 drivers get drug tested?

[lukeaar]

...either for performance enhancing drugs (would they even be worth it?) or recreational drugs before races?

What about alcohol? I can't imagine the start being very fun for other drivers if a mid-field driver was drunk on the grid. Although, I doubt a team would let a driver go out if they suspected they had been drinking.

Just something I thought about this morning.

Cheers!

[kris]

FIA subscribes to the world anti-doping agency code..As per the below website they seem to have current drivers in their list who are subject to doping tests. So on paper they do..

http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/anti-dop ... index.aspx

If websites are to be believed, webber seems to indicate that F1 isn't really serious about it..

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/motorspo ... 28nuq.html

[astracrazy]

theres no way a driver would get into a car drunk, there too many team personnel with the driver most of the time and too many media commitments - someone would notice straight away.

I guess they dont get tested as often as other sports because i can't see how much can be gained from it? I guess that opens up a discussion, what could an F1 driver gain from using drugs?

[Websta]

I don't see them being able to use any drugs to enhance their performance. Perhaps some methamphetamines could improve their concentration and focus, but I would expect they are all pretty damn focused with 750Hp strapped to their arses. The only other thing I could think of are drugs to improve their endurance. But again, the most common would be EPO which increases red blood cell count, but that would be far too dangerous considering how much fluid the driver's lose during a GP.

It seems that the drug tests would only be necessary to prevent the drivers from using recreational drugs before a race. That would be a criminal offence though and they would be very stupid to commit a serious crime at some of the fly away races ...

[kris]

Drivers do get very exhausted at the end of the race, probably even during them. This would surely affect their concentration and there are drugs available which act as simulants for such cases. They could be used to keep them awake and focused for longer periods of time.

There have been cases in various auto-racing series were some drivers have been banned/suspended for doping, so there exists sufficient doubt that it can apply to F1 as well.

I believe one can never discount doping in any sport be it racing or athletics.

[Kiril Varbanov]

Although not impossible, certain drugs can enhance your focus for some time, but then you will simply overheat for hour and a half race. I can understand pills to be taken for 100 meters explosive sprint, but not in the durability race such as F1.

Drivers need physical and mental training, ability to sustain stable performance for prolonged amounts of time and excellent concentration, which always happens when the mind is clear and only natural hormones, such as adrenaline, serotonin and other neurotransmitters are working correctly.

[FrukostScones]

Tomas Enge

[tinhouse]

There have been cases in various auto-racing series were some drivers have been banned/suspended for doping, so there exists sufficient doubt that it can apply to F1 as well.

I believe one can never discount doping in any sport be it racing or athletics.

I agree. The focus of this thread has been on short-term performance-enhancers, but surely drivers could benefit from taking drugs in the off-season to improve the results of muscle-building and endurance training? Track & field athletes are regularly tested out of competition to ensure that they're not artifically boosting their training performance.

I also wonder if the kinds of drugs that endurance athletes have used in the past to boost red blood cell count would help increase an F1 driver's stamina and hence race performance?

[jdlive]

Anyone else who sees Mark Webber as a future F1 leader? Taking the place of Jean Todt or Bernie even. He's the voice of reason on the current grid.

[FrukostScones]

Anyone else who sees Mark Webber as a future F1 leader? Taking the place of Jean Todt or Bernie even. He's the voice of reason on the current grid.

Nooo, please.

[snoop1050]

hoping schumacher gets caught doped up and loses his 7wdc's ?

BTW theres a film based on the life of Sebastien Loeb life http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1219289/

[Gatecrasher]

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsport/ ... 28nuq.html

I do not believe that Adam West took this on purpose, I will give him the benefit of the doubt. I do however think that we want drivers/riders to have a level playing field. Unless you grow your own food in a sealed room with only distilled water and natural soil it is very difficult to avoid all man made chemicals. This is only going to get harder going forward.

[Pup]

The answer to this question is apparently yes...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/motorsport ... ne-drivers

It will be interesting to see if this continues through the season. I'd think that the most likely substance for drivers to use would be stimulants, some of which I doubt stay in the blood stream very long. So perhaps we'll see some post-race testing?

And will they test the rest of the team as well? It wouldn't surprise me at all to learn that the pit crews are gulping down the adderall before each race.

And those engineers are all surely provigil addicts.

[Ral]

If you scroll down to the Tweets, you will find the answer to this question:

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/03/06/f ... ndup-0603/

[Pup]

Better yet, you could just read the post directly below yours.