Explained: Why is the minimum F1 driver weight raised to 82kg?

The FIA has recently confirmed that the minimum driver weight from the 2025 F1 season would increase from 80 kg to 82 kg. This change in minimum weight was decided during a recent F1 Commission meeting before the summer break.

The issue of minimum driver weight has been a concern in the sport for quite some time. Back in 2014, there was no minimum limit on driver weights, and with the introduction of new heavier V6 engines, many taller and heavier drivers feared that they would have to shave off several kilos or suffer with higher lap times.

According to The Guardian, former F1 driver Jenson Button once explained how five kilos could increase a lap time by two-tenths of a second. The Brit was one of the drivers who was going to be affected by the heavier V6 engine contributing to a heavier car.

As time went by, F1 cars became heavier and heavier with new engines and systems. Since most teams keep their car weight right on the limit, they urged hefty drivers to reduce even more weight so that the car and driver weight remained below the limit. This affected the well-being and general health of the drivers.

A major action was taken by the FIA in 2019 with the introduction of the minimum driver weight rule. This rule was separate from the combined minimum weight of the car and driver. The governing body initially set the minimum driver weight to 80 kilos. This helped in the well-being of taller drivers and curbed the advantage that shorter and lighter drivers used to get.

Coincidentally, there was a wave of new drivers like George Russell and Alex Albon who were taller than the rest of the grid, who got to enjoy the new minimum driver weight regulation.

Recently, however, the FIA once again focused on the minimum driver weight limit and decided to increase it by two kilos, further balancing and supporting taller drivers like Russell, Albon, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, etc.

This rule change was recently reflected in the appendix section of the updated technical regulation rulebook of the FIA on July 31. It says that these changes will take effect from the 2025 F1 season.

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FIA statement on new minimum driver weight limit from the 2025 F1 season

The FIA recently released a new issue of the F1 technical regulation rulebook. This new version brings several changes that will either be implemented for the remainder of the 2024 F1 season, or in 2025.

As mentioned above, the governing body increased the minimum driver weight limit for the 2025 season by two kilos in this latest issue. The minimum weight of the driver must be 82 kg, while the overall weight of the car without fuel should be 800 kg.

The statement also says that any car's weight can be checked after a race session with dry-weather tires.

"The mass of the car, without fuel, must not be less than 800kg, at all times during the Competition. If, when required for checking, a car is not already fitted with dry-weather tires, its mass will be determined using a set of dry-weather tires selected by the FIA technical delegate," the statement reads.

When it comes to minimum driver weight, the FIA clearly states that the driver's weight and their seat ballast weight should not fall short of 82 kg.

"The reference mass of the driver will be added to the mass of any ballast designated for this purpose and at no time during the Competition, may this be less than 82kg."