Everyone knows Formula One drivers have some of the fastest reaction times on the planet, but how does that affect how they see the track? To find out, Sky Sports put a pair of Tobii eye-tracking glasses on Force India driver Nico Hülkenberg to see what he focuses on, and for how long.
While the eyes have a very narrow point of focus, the brain is very good about processing everything around that point of focus and filling in the gaps. It’s the same reason why the rev counter is a big set of lights on the steering wheel, right in front of the driver’s face. Being in the driver’s peripheral vision makes it easy for them to see without having to really look for it and avert their focus from the road.
It’s unreal just how fast some of Hülkenberg’s eye reactions are, with some reactions under 100 milliseconds. Some items, such as apexes, demand a bit more of Nico’s focus. It’s a fascinating look into the eye motions F1 drivers make without even thinking.
[H/T ]