F1 stars will have their fitness refined in January

New year, new tricks ... Or not quite - at least in the Formula 1 sport

World champion Sebastian Vettel will put on a big gear in his physical training on Sunday when his trainer Tommy Pärmäkoski returns from Finland to his working place in Switzerland.

Heikki Kovalainen again has been training in his home surroundings in Kainuu while his private trainer Petri Lehikoinen has worked with him from Switzerland.

Turun Sanomat asked each trainer whether these two racing drivers have something new coming into their everyday training.

- We will continue with the old systems. Of course I have had time to think of something new to add during the Christmas break, Pärmäkoski who was reached at the airport promises.

- All the stuff that have proved to be good will remain in the program. It's been a short and intensive training. There's always something that can be fine-tuned, Lehikoinen says.

Both Vettel's and Kovalainen's training season is however different.

As the World Champion Vettel was swept in the celebration of his lifetime, toured around the world and had to hold back with season 2011's preparations for weeks.

Kovalainen again suffered a severe concussion on November 28th in the Race of Champions, which forced the man to rest for two weeks. The doctors gave him permission to go back to training in mid-December.

Since the current F1 drivers don't drive one meter with racing cars during December-January, these two months is by far the most important time for sharpening up the physical condition.

- I have worked as an e-mail -coach and Sebastian has been training well once a day from December. January is a really important phase for us and we will continue the hardened work-out in February too between the testing.

- The season is demanding and record long now when it lasts from March to the end of November and there are 20 races in the serie. Fortunately there is mostly one week in between the races so that it leaves time for the restoring training, Pärmäkoski says.

Vettel, who was chosen as the Sportsman of the Year in Germany doesn't have to start building up his fitness from zero. Pärmäkoski praises his protegé and tells that he has a strong physical fitness and is also very specific with what he puts in his mouth.

Kovalainen has always been one of the most fit drivers in F1. According to Lehikoinen the mandatory rest after the second concussion in a couple of years was sort of an advantage.

- Hits that hard have to be taken seriously. We had some time to do some good training after the season and now he has three good training weeks under his belt.

- I have sent the programs to Heikki, he has done them and reported back to me. With Heikki's experience everything has gone smoothly.

- This is now the most important training time. The driving will begin in early February and then we go again on their terms, Lehikoinen said.

The first test period will be 1-3. February in Valencia. 10-13.2. in Barcelona, 18-21.2 in Jerez and 2-6.3 in Bahrain. There will be alltogether 15 driving days before the season starts on March 13th with Bahrain GP.

Turun Sanomat
HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole