To think that most F1 racers seem to have won the genetic lottery?

[jellyjellybaby]

Absolutely irrelevant topic but this has always been on my mind for no reason at all. I watch a lot of F1 races due to my family being very much into it and for some reason they all generally seem to be what you could consider 'good looking'.

I am sure there is no actual correlation between physical appearance and success as a F1 racer but it's something I noticed ages ago

Am I the only one that thinks so? I hope not 😂

I think most sports people look like that. If you look at athletes in an international meeting on tv, some of them look like supermodels. People like Jessica Ennis, Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnstone Thompson are very good looking. Much the same with other sports. Perhaps its to do with keeping fit and slim for their sport and good blood supply. I also heard once that its hard to succeed in sport unless your body is very symmetrical and correctly designed, so that will filter out people who are less attractive I guess.

I think a lot of them do look attractive and yes agree re Toto Wolff, but in real life, with the exception of Mark Webber, they are all on the small side.
So if they didn’t drive well you would probably not notice them in a crowd.

I actually find Bottas, Magnussen and Raikonnen (one of my favourites) to be overall good looking! And I actually had eye surgery not too long ago so it's definitely not a sight problem, maybe my 3 brain cells are just not working properly anymore 😂

Leclerc and Lando are quite blessed when it comes to looks but maybe a little too young for my taste, it even feels wrong to find them attractive

I am sure there is no actual correlation between physical appearance and success as a F1 racer but it's something I noticed ages ago

Of course there is, F1 racer requires physical fitness and wealth (to get the opportunity) both of those things are correlated with physical appearance, they also of course are wealthy and have a need to engage sponsors so have to work on their actual appearance.

Jeff Bezo's is not a good looking guy (I don't think) but he looks a hell of a lot better now than he did twenty years ago, just from choosing to work on his appearance.

I think it’s hard to see past the age of some of the younger ones too. I feel very maternal towards Le Clerc, Norris and Albon because they’re so young. Whenever I see Lando being interviewed I come out with a “such a nice wee boy” as though I’m not 30 myself 😂

Of recent actual drivers I think Jenson is probably who I think is the best looking. He’s also taller than a lot of them though 🤔 Bottas has the problem where all the neck strengthening exercises make his head look more boxy. Vettel looks alright when he’s not up to his chin in flame retardant layers.

Not 30, only 30!

They're all so unattractive

The jaw line of DC 😜

I don't agree the best teams have the best looking drivers as it does them good.

Top 3 teams. Apart from Le Clerc and Albion the others are hardly what I'd chose for the face or personality of the sport!

They are rich physically very fit and rich wear lots of tight clothes. And they are very fit rich. And rich tanned, and groomed. And fit rich.

I think all this helps

Maybe Lewis Hamilton has a bit more substance than you think
www.skysports.com/f1/news/24181/11974078/nicolas-hamilton-on-how-brother-f1-star-lewis-helped-him-with-bullies

His brother Nick is a real inspiration

@user1495884620

Michael Schumacher blows your theory right out of the water!

I though Michael was lovely, his brother Ralph on the other hand hand definately had a whack with the ugly stick.

Hmm. Not sure i agree.
Nigel Mansell
Damon Hill
Olivier Grouillard
Alain Prost
Nikki Lauda (pre accident)

There are many more that I would not describe as good looking.

What I love about the newest f1 drivers is their sense of fun. Max and Danny Ricc have that too.

I even follow Lando Norris on Twitch. He was hilarious during the e-races.

In terms of their health and in particular the speed of their reactions, yes they have in a way won the genetic lottery. In a way this reminds me of the lung capacity of Olympic rowers, which we do not usually have.

Lewis was hand picked at 6/7 by McLaren as the "black racer of the future". Not sure they lined him up against other 6 year olds to decide on looks.

He was rubbish at racing then though, good job he got better! Money definitely helps with looks!

Lewis was hand picked at 6/7 by McLaren as the "black racer of the future"

Source? I was under the impression he only started karting aged 8.

@ChangeThePassword

Lewis was hand picked at 6/7 by McLaren as the "black racer of the future"

Source? I was under the impression he only started karting aged 8.

Source

Me!

Watched him roll up with McLaren trucks as a junior cadet or whatever it was. Everyone else was there with their Dad and a transit

According to Wikipedia he was signed to mclaren's young driver program in 98, when he was 13, after he had been winning races and doing well enough for Ladbrokes to open a book on him winning an f1 race by the age of 23.

Might you be misremembering?

And started karting aged 8, and first met Ron Dennis aged 10.

Kimi Raikkonen, oh yes, and he's v old for F1 now, but still stunning.

6/7 or 8 at a top push. Junior cadets. He was tiny. Obviously a very good move and very progressive for the time. He was positively hand selected for the team and was supported by them very very early on. But you know, Wikipedia rools.

Eddie Irvine was a bit of a looker back in the day but David Coulthard was my favourite!!

Nico Hulkenberg is the tastiest thing on 2 legs for sure!

Well, if you have a better source I'd be interested to see it.

Very fit, very healthy, loads of money, what's not to like?! 😍