Piquet Frustrated with Losing Weight

Renault's Nelsinho Piquet admitted he has tried to lose some weight ahead of the 2009 F1 campaign in order to improve his on-track performances next season. However, as compared to teammate Fernando Alonso – who allegedly got rid of 4 kilograms this winter – the Brazilian only lost a single kilogram.

“I have nothing more to lose. I am simply bigger than Fernando,” said a frustrated Piquet Jr., according to German magazine Auto Motor und Sport.

Most of the drivers have declared war against the kilograms as a consequence of the new technical rules introduced by the FIA for 2009. Due to the implementation of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System – a unit that will make for approximately 30 kg of the total admissible car's weight of 605 kg (driver included) – lighter drivers are to benefit from a more well-balanced car as compared to heavier ones.

In reality, an F1 car with driver included weight easily under 605 kilograms (somewhere in the vicinity of 560 kg). Until 2009, F1 mechanics were using ballast on certain sections of the car to improve its balance. However, with the additional load created by the KERS unit (that will have to be placed in the gearbox section), the team will have littler room to place ballast for improved balance.

The only compromise to that problem is drivers losing weight. This way, the loss in kilograms would transfer into more ballast that can be placed in different ares of the car.

Alonso and Piquet are not the only drivers in the F1 paddock to try to get rid of the excessive kilos, as Rubens Barrichello, Kimi Raikkonen and Nico Rosberg have also underwent several diets for the good of the sport.