Fuente: © McLaren Mercedes F1 Team
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TRAINING TO WIN

/noticias.info/ Maximising performance in Formula 1 involves much more than simply refining the cars – as Racing Line discovered at a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team training camp in Finland.

Formula 1 epitomises the quest for maximum performance. The team at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes follows a robust and meticulous method to ensure that every component of the car is performing at the peak of its potential. Weaknesses are pinpointed and the team's efforts are focused to improve those areas.

Yet the cars are ultimately just tools produced to facilitate a goal. They are designed, built, run and driven by people. With such a large contributing factor to the equation, it's logical to conclude it would be beneficial to better understand how the team members are performing, and do whatever possible to raise their game even higher.

"There is great potential to develop an individual’s capability in Formula 1,” says Aki Hintsa, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ head of human performance. “It's the reason we've developed the McLaren Lab Training Programme. It’s a framework within which we can measure the health and physical and mental fitness of the team, and develop its overall physiological performance.

"Optimise fitness, and you improve concentration, stamina and fatigue resistance", Aki Hintsa Applying a logical approach to health and fitness is not a new idea: drivers have worked on their strength and endurance for years. What the McLaren Lab Training Programme does is take the concept and apply it to the race and test team, not just the drivers.

The tools of the McLaren Lab are sub-programmes that focus on cardiovascular fitness, biodynamical factors; such as musculoskeletal balance, flexibility and strength – nutrition, mental energy and general health,” explains Hintsa. “Each of the five areas has a target, such as for the drivers to reach world-class cardiovascular performance, a method of measuring the outcome, and a list of resources necessary to achieve the target.

Although the drivers are key people, the role of engineers, mechanics and other team members is so important that for us to build a winning team, they must also be fit and committed. When you optimise fitness, you improve your concentration skills, stamina and fatigue resistance. This is extremely important with the stress the team members go through during a race weekend. Being fit also helps recovery – vital when travelling through time zones and working long hours.”

To facilitate the McLaren Lab Training Programme, early in 2007 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes established a new Partnership with the Kuortane Sports Institute in western Finland. The institute is accredited by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), and has helped train scores of the world’s top athletes. One of those, javelin thrower Tapio Korjus, is now the facility’s manager.

“We have been applying a precise, scientific approach to training in track and field and many other sporting disciplines for more than 30 years,” says Korjus. “But in motorsport, it is still a relatively new development. Only in the past 10 to 15 years have drivers started to use the same training techniques as top athletes. In that period, the physical performance of Formula 1 drivers has increased – and Lewis has set the new benchmark.”

McLaren drivers have been coming here for more than 10 years, starting with Mika Häkkinen. Initially, the trips were for private consultations, but, with the implementation of the McLaren Lab Training Programme, they have become an official part of team plans.

The relationship stepped up a gear with the new Partnership. Kuortane was the venue for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ first training camp in January 2007, when Lewis came here to train with his engineers and mechanics.

“I was here with all the guys I was going to be working with most closely at races,” recalls Lewis. “It was a great time for us to bond and get to know each other before the start of the season. It was physically very tough – it always is here – but it was also a lot of fun.”

This second training camp differs because the 20 engineers and mechanics present are not necessarily people Lewis works with day-to-day. Some worked with Fernando Alonso in 2007, and others are from the test team. Pedro de la Rosa, Gary Paffett and the team’s trainers are also here, and during the week everyone will get to know each other better.

"Tests give a benchmark. We prepare programmes for everyone based on these", Aki HintsaDay one begins with Hintsa outlining the objectives and running through the activities. He’s followed by Korjus, talking about the fundamental principals of building long-term success. It’s a motivational 45 minutes, which is good because the rest of the day is spent doing strength and cardiovascular tests. Strength is tested with a series of exercises: three varieties of abdominal crunch (to failure), dumb-bell shoulder press (as many as possible in one minute), leg press (pushing against an immobile footplate that measures the force in kg), and two standing exercises where the subject pulls against a load while wearing a harness. Cardiovascular fitness is tested with a fearsome VO2 max test (see sidebar), using static bikes and heart-rate monitors. Day two brings biodynamical assessments, blood tests, and electrocardiograms.

Golf after dinner helps relaxation“These tests give us a benchmark of where everybody is with their health and fitness,” says Hintsa. “Based on these measurements, we prepare fitness and nutritional programmes for everyone. Once we have these baseline studies, we start preparing for the season.”

After day one’s tests comes recovery, with a visit to a hydrotherapy pool, followed by a sauna and, after dinner, a session at Kuortane’s indoor golf centre. The format is repeated each day: lecture, tests or training, recovery and an evening leisure activity – archery, cross-country skiing, climbing, bowling and even go-karting.

The lectures cover ways of improving lifestyle through better nutrition and rest, and also more work-focused subjects, such as optimising mental resources as a team. They are delivered by a panel of expert physicians and specialists associated with the Institute.

“As well as the right facilities, we have access to the best people to help the team.” says Hintsa. “I visited many training centres when I worked as chief medical officer to the Finnish Olympic team, and I discovered it is the people who work at a centre that make it a good one. We have to have smart people, who are willing to give us help 24 hours a day.”

After each mental workout comes a physical one. Most take place in the facility’s main sports hall, which, in addition to areas for volleyball and other court sports, also caters for field activities such as javelin, discus and hammer.

Using medicine balls and weights, the team members are put through their paces by Kuortane’s own trainers, including Finnish national champion hurdler Petra Stenman, and the reigning world javelin champion and European Athlete of the Year Tero Pitkämäki.

Strength tests for Pedro and Lewis“There was a wide variety of fitness levels, but the guys worked well as a group,” observes Pitkämäki. “We did a lot of exercises with medicine balls and weights – normal workouts for athletes, but different to what they may be used to oing in a gym. Lewis, Pedro and Gary were impressive. They are fit guys.” The team members have a swimming lesson in Kuortane’s pool with Jani Sievinen, a former world champion and Olympic silver medallist in the 200m and 400m medleys. After five days of tests and hard training, the team members are exhausted. But they are also very motivated.

“Coming here has been an amazing experience,” says Pete Vale, race team crew chief. “I’ve learned so much about my physical and mental fitness and, more importantly, the areas where I can improve and develop. The fitness sessions have been punishing but fun, while the lectures on rest and nutrition were fascinating.”

“It’s a great way to kick-start your training,” says Lewis. “I’m already fitter in certain areas than I was in January, so by the start of next season I should be even stronger.”

Follow-up tests are an integral part of the McLaren Lab Training Programme. Selected parameters will be monitored throughout the year, so Hintsa and his colleagues can check everything is on track or if they need to intervene. The benefits to the team of the McLaren Lab Training Programme are clear: the team members become stronger, fitter and more healthy. And with access to the latest Technogym equipment at the Fitness and Wellbeing Centre back at the McLaren Technology Centre, team members have the ideal facility in which to continue improving.

The benefits to Kuortane of the Partnership are perhaps less obvious, but no less significant, as Korjus explains: “Already the relationship is helping us to build up our reputation. In Vodafone McLaren Mercedes we have a high level, global Partner, which demonstrates that we have the facilities and expertise to offer a top-quality service. The Partnership helps our marketing because although we have international-level athletes training here, we have to remain confidential. This relationship allows us to tell the world what we can do and who we work with.”

Although being the training centre of choice for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ drivers brings kudos to the facility, the fact that the team’s engineers and mechanics – normal, professional people – are benefiting from visiting Kuortane is just as important.

“Kuortane is quite well known in the athletics world,” says Korjus. “But working with the engineers and mechanics shows we also help people who are not athletes. This year, we will do around 4000 tests, 900 more than last year, and 3000 of those will be with non-athletes and the Partnership helps us to tell people this, especially company leaders. ‘‘An organisation is only as strong as the people who work there. They are your knowledge base and your most valuable asset, so it makes sense to look after them. Fit and healthy employees concentrate better, work harder, are happier and more focused, and if they come as a group it helps build team spirit. If your employees are happy and healthy they are less likely to want to go to another company.”

For Hintsa, however, the Partnership is purely about maximising the human performance of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

“I have a dream to build up something that didn’t previously exist in Formula 1. We are pioneers, finding new ways to push the team forward, and we have found something that is really worth pursuing. It makes me happy to see the guys smiling and having fun, but this is not why we are training; everything we do has a target, and our target is to win.”

Taking It To The (VO2) Max

“Twenty-two minutes. Heart rate: 202 beats per minute.” I hear the voice, but I don’t see the speaker. My eyes sting with sweat, the blood is pounding in my ears, and my legs, well, forget feeling like lead, they just plain hurt. This is the VO2 max test: a static bike, heart-rate monitor and 25 watts of extra resistance every two minutes for as long as you can stand.

Two minutes later I’m done – or done in to be more accurate. I get off the bike, and wobble over to the monitoring desk. My heart rate peaked at 208bpm, pedalling against a force of 325watts – the equivalent of a very steep hill. Lewis and Pedro go considerably longer, but they’re Formula 1 drivers and they’re very fit.

The VO2 max test measures the body’s maximum capacity to transport and use oxygen during incremental exercise – the V is for volume. It’s one of the most accurate ways of determining aerobic performance, which in turn is a good indicator of cardiovascular fitness.



A version of this article originally appeared in the January 2008 edition of Racing Line, the McLaren Group's in-house magazine
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