Formula 1 drivers can lose up to eight pounds in a single race. Yes, you read that right. Driving cars at 200mph around a track with massive G forces and a heart rate of 170bpm is shockingly intense on the body. So, adhering to a strict race weekend diet and recovery program is key to the success of an F1 driver.

Isack Hadjar is in his first season of Formula 1 for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 team, and he’s already wowed fans and surpassed expectations. He was third on the podium at the Dutch Grand Prix and has scored an impressive 39 points this season. Here’s everything the French driver eats—and wishes he could eat—on a Formula 1 race weekend.

Favorite Food
A hand is seen pouring raclette - melted cheese onto a dish containing bread and slices of ham, creating a delicious-looking open sandwich. The setting appears to be outdoors, on a wooden table, adding to the rustic ambiance of the meal.

Raclette, F1 driver Isack Hadjar’s favorite food.

(Stefania Pelfini la Waziya via Getty Images)

My favorite food is raclette. It’s a French thing. It’s really good around wintertime, but I only eat it once a year, because it’s very unhealthy.

I crave cous cous, kebab and raclette most during the season.

Race Weekend Menu

It’s not the same every day, because I don’t like repetition. But breakfast is always the same. A full omelet, veggie or some chicken inside. I like a granola bowl with berries, oats, chia seeds and plain yogurt.

Fresh poke bowl with tuna, avocado, rice, and seaweed salad

Poke bowl for F1 driver during race weekend.

(Igor Ploskin via Getty Images)

Then, at lunch, I like to eat really light because I need about three hours to digest before going in the car. So, a poke bowl. Very simple with black rice, salmon, avocado and a bit of mango. And if I feel really hungry, I have the option to add some protein pancakes as a dessert. The option is always there, and I always do it.

Post-Race Meal

At the moment, after the last two races, it’s either been chicken ramen or steak with sweet potatoes.

Post race, I kind of feel miserable. A nice burger is always welcome. It’s what fuels me. I need that fuel, like the ExxonMobil we put in our cars; it’s the same.

Freshly made Cheeseburger on a dark rustic plate. In the background, a portion of fries as a side dish. The burger has a shiny, brown bun sprinkled with black sesame seeds. Inside, a thick slice of meat and melted cheese are visible.

Race weekend cheeseburger for an F1 driver.

(SimpleImages via Getty Images)

Sometimes after the race, I eat very dirty. I eat all sorts of stuff. Honestly, it’s like, burgers, milkshake, more pancakes. It’s disgusting what I can do after a race when I feel really dehydrated and very weak, so I need to eat.

How He Chooses His Food

Honestly, I don’t know. My trainer decides what I eat from a nutritional standpoint. I tell him what I like to eat, and then he adjusts my meals.

He knows what is good for recovery and what is not. He always gives me a special drink, which he calls “The Cherry Bomb.” It’s very sour and doesn’t taste good at first, but now that I’m used to it, I like it. It’s a recovery drink, but I’m not a scientist on this stuff.

Unfortunately, I do need to restrict the foods I eat during the season. Honestly, I still eat well. I’m lucky I’m a small guy; I don’t have any weight restriction in the car like some other drivers on the grid, so I get to eat what I like. But I need to cut a lot of sugar, which is hard for me to do.

Cheat Day Meal
Stacked soufflé pancakes. Topped with butter and maple syrup.

Fluffy pancakes for Isack Hadjar cheat day meal.

(Kayoko Hayashi via Getty Images)

For my cheat day meal, I wake up to fluffy pancakes with chocolate and banana. They have the best in Japan. Dinner would be a stupid amount of sushi, and for lunch, a kebab. And a lot of milkshakes on the side, throughout the day. I really like sweet drinks.

I’m a machine, just like my car, so I need to fuel with the right foods. My F1 car and I, we work the same.