Music while racing........

[wesley123]

Having said that, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near a track if Romain Grosjean or Pastor Maldonado were driving while listening to heavy metal...

You wouldnt want to be near them on track either way

[xxChrisxx]

I understand that most posts in this threads are jovial. But those who have seriously proposing listing to music, have obviously never driven a car at high speed, near the limit of handling for any length of time.

It's impossible to describe the level of concentration required, that's whats the most exhausting thing. Someone jabbering on the radio is bad enough. Music?? Forget it.

[Mika1]

I remember a quote of Lewis Hamilton. He said he wanted to try to listen music during winter testing with one ear plug.

[Richard]

How did you guys manage to find this thread?

A spambot posted in an old thread so it jumped to the top of the listings. I've deleted the spambot post.

[Belatti]

I understand that most posts in this threads are jovial. But those who have seriously proposing listing to music, have obviously never driven a car at high speed, near the limit of handling for any length of time.

It's impossible to describe the level of concentration required, that's whats the most exhausting thing. Someone jabbering on the radio is bad enough. Music?? Forget it.

Exactly. Try music with a tennis player trying to serve or a chess master thinking his next move.

[Joie de vivre]

Try playing F1 video game with music and try to shift at proper time ... good luck!

[Websta]

Try playing F1 video game with music and try to shift at proper time ... good luck!

I was coming 6th in an online race with 3 laps left. I turned on "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor and my laptimes suddenly dropped and I finished second with some fantastic passing moves. I would definitely recommend it.

[Pandamasque]

Listening to the music even in a road car can be quite distracting, while racing - insane. At the limit you need all the attention and brain capacity you can get to control the car, and hope there's enough left for tactical thinking while battling on the track, and then some for race strategy.

Although I'm not involved in racing, I'm almost sure that when it comes to gear change, hearing the engine is a most determinent factor than seeing the lights on the steering wheel.

As a simracer I must agree. The lights are only useful when you're trying to pull through the last few 100s of rpm on higher gears. At lower gears things happen too quickly to react to the lights. Besides, aural (and vestibular) stimuli are recognized by the brain quicker than others, vision in particular.

[Gridlock]

Music can get you into that famous zone though, it allows the brain to background more tasks I think, much like the act of meditation. Think Senna at Monaco - no direct brain input, kinda, just action and reaction, "up there you don't have time to think - you think, you die" to quote the short one.

Relatedly I've had to take the Drive soundtrack out of my car, love that film but oh dear putting the music on whilst driving is a bad idea

PS read the first few posts ("Kimi said he wanted music while racing") and didn't even realise it was 2006 vintage, thank god he's back in F1 =D>

[Websta]

Music has been linked to improving athletic performance with the theory being that it reduces the perception of physical fatigue and improves motor coordination. The benefits of music on stress have been well documented with certain types of music significantly reducing cortisol levels in pre-op patients in hospitals; however, drivers already benefit from this by listening to music before races.

As for music improving concentration, that is a little dubious. Listening to music can affect cerebral vascular flow rates, increase arousal and influence cognitive function by utilising working memory and other brain resources. Very generally, music tends to improve cognitive function when the music doesn't directly interfere with the task, e.g. music with vocals would negatively interfere with verbal processing.

But racing is not an activity that relies heavily on most cognitive processes (memory, reasoning, problem solving, learning, verbal processing etc) - it only really relies on attention. As far as perception goes, simultaneous sources of information of the same type of stimulus will compete for processing. Racing fundamentally relies on visual stimulus and only partially relies on auditory stimulus for gear changes and sense of speed (based on engine pitch). As these are processed separately in the brain, visual perception should not be affected. Whether a drivers ability to react to visual stimulus (e.g. attention) will be diminished or improved by listening to music is an area where little research has been conducted. I came across a study that found that listening to music increased the required mental effort of the driver regardless of the situation, but no deficit in driving ability (including ability to react to situations) was observed. The study concluded that the increased mental effort that listening to music requires from drivers compensates for any distraction it causes.

This is still an area with little research being conducted, and brain function remains a poorly understood phenomenon. I would say music in a racing situation is not a good idea, but during winter testing would be fine.

[siskue2005]

interesting topic, As i am a doctor when i was in my med school we need to study very hard for a long period of time for months (15 hours a day) it is really tough....i have seen my colleagues put on their headphones and listen to music while studying !! ....they would go on listening to them and studying for hours with it....and would score more marks than others!

i never could listen to music and study...it is impossible for me but many of my friends who are capable doctors now do that!

so i think it is highly subjective and some people also say that it helps them concentrate more

[Florio]

I seem to remember a couple of drivers mentioning that defending is also is aided by hearing the car behind's sound of their engine as well. Also, try playing something simple like a racing game with earphones up high. It's alot harder to get the gear changes right, and with F1 being so focused on those final few hundred revs I don't think music will ever become a norm whilst driving.

[Gridlock]

I don't think music will ever become a norm whilst driving.

Just wait until Kimi joins Red Bull

[Pandamasque]

i never could listen to music and study...it is impossible for me but many of my friends who are capable doctors now do that!

so i think it is highly subjective and some people also say that it helps them concentrate more

I can both study and work (write, translate, calculate) to some music, as long as the lyrics aren't too 'intrusive' and I can 'bypass' them. As mentioned above, music actually stimulates brain function, I even heard it can literally improve IQ for a short while.
That said. when extreme levels of concentration and attention is required, music is distracting as hell.

[Hobbs04]

You could always hum, like Joe Tanto. For those confused YouTube it.