F1 driver Esteban Ocon threw up in helmet during Qatar Grand Prix before finishing final 42 laps

F1 driver Esteban Ocon made headlines during the Qatar Grand Prix. Those weren’t for winning, though. Instead, it was for something much grosser.

The entire race was under some reportedly nasty conditions, including temperatures of as much as 170 degrees Fahrenheit in the cars. That led to issues for drivers, including multiple drivers feeling ill or struggling with their health during and after the race.

That included Esteban Ocon, who actually threw up in his helmet early in the race. However, he didn’t stop racing, which means he finished the remaining 42 or so laps with vomit in his helmet and that heat. Even with those conditions, Ocon was able to finish in seventh place.

“That was the hardest-fought points that I’ve ever had to fight for,” Ocon said after the race. “I was feeling ill, lap 15, 16, I was throwing up for two laps inside the cockpit. And then I was like, ‘S*** that’s going to be a long race.'”

Long might be a bit of an understatement. That seems almost cruel to him as a driver. Certainly, it took more than a little mental toughness to get through the race.

“I tried to calm down, I tried to remember that the mental side in sport is the strongest part of your body, and I managed to get that under control, and finish the race. But honestly, I was not expecting for the race to be that hard. I can normally do two race distances, even in Singapore. Physically, like muscle-wise and cardio-wise, I’m always fine. It was just like 80C inside the cockpit this race,” Ocon said.

“I don’t think we probably do the best job in terms of not keeping the heat in the back, but dissipating it inside the cockpit where the driver drives, and I think that was probably the reason today why we felt so bad. But yeah. Glad that we finished the race.”

Despite all of that, Esteban Ocon never once considered retiring.

“It’s not an option, retiring. I was never going to do that,” Ocon said. “You need to kill me to retire. It’s true.”

Esteban Ocon was one of several drivers impacted by the conditions. Among those who seemed to get sick were Logan Sargeant, who retired from the race early, Lance Stroll, who needed an ambulance, and Valtteri Bottas, who said it was torture.

In the end, Max Verstappen was able to win the Qatar Grand Prix.

FIA to consider changes to F1 after Qatar

Following the difficult conditions at the Qatar Grand Prix, the FIA announced that it will consider changes in a statement.

“The FIA notes with concern that the extreme temperature and humidity during the 2023 FIA Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix had an impact on the wellbeing of the drivers. While being elite athletes, they should not be expected to compete under conditions that could jeopardise their health or safety,” the statement read.

“A number of measures will be discussed at the upcoming medical commission meeting in Paris. Measures may include guidance for competitors, research into modifications for more efficient airflow in the cockpit, and recommendations for changes to the calendar to align with acceptable climatic conditions, amongst others.”