Paris (AFP)

At the same time physical trainers, masseurs, nutritionists, agendas and confidants, they follow as their shadow the drivers of Formula 1 during the Grands Prix as outside: but what exactly do the famous "physios"?

"My official title is + performance coach + We are called + physios + (for physiotherapists, ed) because we are associated with those who massage athletes after an event, but our role is much broader," says AFP Rupert Manwaring, who has accompanied Carlos Sainz Jr since 2017.

"I work with Carlos on his physical training" from the preparation of the season, early January, until its end in early December, with a break in August, continues the British.

The goal is for the McLaren Spaniard to be tough enough and tough enough to drive an F1 from winter testing in mid-February.

In addition to his physical preparation, Manwaring helps him manage jet lag, his food and a busy schedule, especially GP weekends, between the solicitations of his team, media and sponsors.

"I look after his health and well-being when others need to get something from Carlos in one area or another," he explains, "I'm here to allow him to focus on himself. and its preparation. "

- No piloting advice -

The "physio", who may have attended various training courses in sports medicine and in the paramedical field, is not there, however, to provide guidance. It's the role of stables and engineers.

Once the championship was launched in mid-March, the Manwaring and Sainz program is well established.

"The busiest days, we do two training sessions followed by a massage, the others, only one to have some time for ourselves," says the 34-year-old performance coach.

"The race weeks, our last big session is on Tuesday or Wednesday, because you do not want the driver to go on a tired weekend."

"During the GP, our sessions, especially on Thursday, are more likely to wake up his body, to allow him to feel alert, possibly to alleviate pain or discomfort," says the one who began "there are seven or eight years "in endurance, especially at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, before F1, a category in which his father has made his career, from mechanic to stable manager.

- "The right state of mind" -

"The Friday night is massage and Sunday morning, jogging and massage, it's a good time because I have time to talk with Carlos, while the other days he has a lot of activities," adds Manwaring .

"It allows me to see if he is in the right frame of mind for the GP.The physical training is light, it is rather to see if he is mentally ready and to give him confidence."

This role of mental preparer is in fact an integral part of that of the "physio".

"I do not apply a formal process, says the coach Sainz.I just know him very well, which gives me an idea of ​​the mood in which he should be in certain situations and I try to bring him there. "

"During a race weekend, the driver may be frustrated or, on the contrary, too relaxed and sufficient," he continues, "my job is to bring him back to what I believe to be the right balance, not to trying to reinvent it, eventually we can do visualization exercises or things like that, but nothing too structured, it's a matter of feeling. "

The time that their collaboration, driver and coach, are almost indissociable. "It's a bit like a couple, no?" Smiles Manwaring, "we spend a lot of time together in a very demanding environment." Fortunately, we get along very well, but we have to keep things fun and light. . "

© 2019 AFP