48 replies to this topic

[Cool Beans]

This is not a flame. I'm seriously wondering.
All the pictures from him from the last year or so show him with a neck that I swear is sometimes even wider than his head. It's unbelievable.
As far as I can remember he used to have a normal neck up until last year. Then something terrible happened.
What?

[kNt]

Maybe he's like this snakes that swallow rabbits? No seriously, I'd guess training.

[jokuvaan]

It just must be those moustache ;)

[polaris]

its not the neck...his head has reduced in size to match his brain

[Cool Beans]

Ah, indeed.

[Jhope]

Don Juan D'Alonso

[Ferrari_F1_fan_2001]

Maybe he took some neck training tips from Iron Mike Tyson?





Schumi in comparison seems to have a fairly normal sized neck.

[mikedeering]

Schuey might have regular girth, but that length is all wrong.

[Craven Morehead]

training fer sure. F1 drivers' necks take a beating due to cornering loads. fred seems to be pretty serious about it.

[HSJ]

I don't recall how thick his neck used to be, but if it has changed significantly over just one year, it is almost certainly not thanks to regular training. Muscle growth isn't that quick. Naturally anyway. However, I suspect the change isn't that big and good comparison pics would probably show that. After all, he's been driving F1 cars for years now, so the biggest growth should have happened a long time ago already.

[K-One]

Recent neck growth and on-track antics indicates towards heavy use of hormones

[as65p]

Originally posted by K-One
Recent neck growth and on-track antics indicates towards heavy use of hormones

Why do I get such an uneasy feeling every time a thread discusses drivers physical attributes ;).

[Craven Morehead]

Originally posted by HSJ
I don't recall how thick his neck used to be, but if it has changed significantly over just one year, it is almost certainly not thanks to regular training. Muscle growth isn't that quick. Naturally anyway.

So, according to you, a year isn't enough time to effect a significant physical change via training?

Ever done any real training yourself? In my experience considerable changes can happen within a period of months.

[jokuvaan]

heh actually there was some tabloid stories not too long ago that Alonso might be using some not so legal stuff, I think they werent even noticed here.

[Mox]

Originally posted by Ferrari_F1_fan_2001
Schumi in comparison seems to have a fairly normal sized neck.

Neck looks normal sized next to scarily ABnormal sized chin!

There ... my first, last and only "Schumacher's chin" joke.

[mach4]

Originally posted by mikedeering
Schuey might have regular girth, but that length is all wrong.

I would have used "neck" somewhere in that sentence, just to make sure nobody takes it out of context ;)

[Scudetto]

Originally posted by Craven Morehead
So, according to you, a year isn't enough time to effect a significant physical change via training?

Ever done any real training yourself? In my experience considerable changes can happen within a period of months.

Indeed it can. Let ask the experts:


"Steroids? What steroids?"

[w0000t]

montoyas absence starting to show at this bb already...

[AyePirate]

Originally posted by w0000t
montoyas absence starting to show at this bb already...

just wait 'til Schuey leaves




(tumbleweed rolls by)

[AyePirate]

Originally posted by Ferrari_F1_fan_2001
Maybe he took some neck training tips from Iron Mike Tyson?

or simply a Rollins Band fan?

[Foxbat]

Originally posted by jokuvaan
heh actually there was some tabloid stories not too long ago that Alonso might be using some not so legal stuff, I think they werent even noticed here.

That was the other Alonso, the one who plays in the spanish national soccer team

Looking at his overall physique I'd say it isn't steroids anyway, unless he's been injecting them straight into those neck muscles
Flavio likes to see his drivers get lots of physical excercise, and besides stamina the neck is probably the one thing that drivers really need to train (you need some upper body strength obviously, but less then it used to be and again that's mostly endurance).

As an aside Sakon Yamamoto was actually considered not-F1 fit during the pre-season, because his neck muscles weren't up to. Maybe they've been working out together?

[Menace]

If I remember right Alonso has always had a wide neck. Its probably just genetics.

[OSX]

Originally posted by Menace
If I remember right Alonso has always had a wide neck. Its probably just genetics.

It's more to do with the driving and the g forces than genes per se. Alonso is not the only driver with a thick neck, just check Ricardo Zonta from the China preview gallery. Drivers that have relatively bigger heads in relation to their their bodies will naturally develop thicker neck muscles.

[Ivan]

Neck Steroids

[inaki]

Alonso trains his neck with weights.

[Fatgadget]

I'm sure his girlfriend is not complaining!

[Vagabond]

Flavio was riding his neck until Alonso said 'no more' and defected to McLaren.

[HSJ]

Originally posted by HSJ
I don't recall how thick his neck used to be, but if it has changed significantly over just one year, it is almost certainly not thanks to regular training. Muscle growth isn't that quick. Naturally anyway. However, I suspect the change isn't that big and good comparison pics would probably show that. After all, he's been driving F1 cars for years now, so the biggest growth should have happened a long time ago already.

And today at grandpix.com: http://www.grandprix...ns/ns17531.html

There are however muscle-building steroids that may be used by those in search of more body strength and there have been suspicions over the years that one or two top names may have employed these to create muscle which they then maintain with constant exercise.

Quite a coincidence, the timing I mean, having posted yesterday and grandprix.com reporting today.

Personally, though, I had not taken note of FA's neck, but years ago I thought DC's neck was ridiculously thick. Perhaps some just have a natural tendency for it, their muscles responding very well to specific training. Or maybe they're on steroids.

[Piif]

Steroids.

[Ferrari_F1_fan_2001]

Nothing to do with steroids. You just need a good training programme and a good diet. If you stick to the same diet as before, you'll develop lean sinewy muscle as opposed to 'mass' muscle.

I believe Alonso uses the 'neck bridges' method of training his neck, as pioneered by Mike Tyson.

[ClubmanGT]

Perhaps he got the same guy who landscaped David Coulthard's jaw...

[Jerome]

Another option: Alons has a problem with his... god, what is the English word for it, schildvleesklier? Wait... it is a gland, and if you have abnormalities your neck becomes wide...

[Timstr11]

Originally posted by Jerome.Inen
... god, what is the English word for it, schildvleesklier? Wait... it is a gland, and if you have abnormalities your neck becomes wide...

Thyroid gland

[KeyserSoze27]

This thread is a joke

There is a million of bodybuilding exercises and machines to help ANYONE to have a bigger neck.

Alonso is also quite short so any improvement in his neck is (visually) exaggerated... he also has very narrow shoulders ;)

[woftam]

Originally posted by KeyserSoze27
This thread is a joke

There is a million of bodybuilding exercises and machines to help ANYONE to have a bigger neck.

Alonso is also quite short so any improvement in his neck is (visually) exaggerated... he also has very narrow shoulders ;)

A joke is an understatement.

Seems like the usual suspects trying to downplay his abilities for their obvious fanboy reasons.

Steroids - gimme a break
Wake up to yourselves.

[Foxbat]

Originally posted by woftam



A joke is an understatement.

Seems like the usual suspects trying to downplay his abilities for their obvious fanboy reasons.

Steroids - gimme a break
Wake up to yourselves.

Definitly, people are clearly saying that all his succes is due to steroid-induced neck-widening rather than talent

[Bruce]

I remember Michele Alboreto (think it was him) saying that every driver finished his first F1 race with an almighty headache from the neck strain induced from the G-forces, and finished the season with a neck girth increase. His metaphor for cornering in an F1 car was to "imagine lying on your side with your helmeted head hanging free over the void - now imagine there are 5 bowling balls suspended from the helmet...

Can you think of a better neck workout?

As to MS - he apparently keeps his neck slim by tying a black string around the base.... (look at the pictures...)

[nude dude]

Originally posted by HSJ


And today at grandpix.com: http://www.grandprix...ns/ns17531.html



Quite a coincidence, the timing I mean, having posted yesterday and grandprix.com reporting today.

Personally, though, I had not taken note of FA's neck, but years ago I thought DC's neck was ridiculously thick. Perhaps some just have a natural tendency for it, their muscles responding very well to specific training. Or maybe they're on steroids.

i have a big penis.... must be "teh steroids"
ps, wanna touch it? you allmost can feel the steroids in it...

alonso steroid sample:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid

[Jacquesback]

Originally posted by Ferrari_F1_fan_2001
Nothing to do with steroids. You just need a good training programme and a good diet. If you stick to the same diet as before, you'll develop lean sinewy muscle as opposed to 'mass' muscle.

I believe Alonso uses the 'neck bridges' method of training his neck, as pioneered by Mike Tyson.

Freestyle wrestlers have been using bridging in exercise and competition for 100's of years. The only thing Tyson pioneered is cannibalism in the ring!

[tuaminen]

I knew there was something fishy about that guy...

[Cool Beans]

Funny, I hadn't even thought of the steroid angle when posting this thread.

[Elspeth]

I remember Nigel Mansell saying his neck grew larger during the season due to the body working to resist the high g-forces or something like that.

[giacomo]

Originally posted by Elspeth
I remember Nigel Mansell saying his neck grew larger during the season due to the body working to resist the high g-forces or something like that.

Not only Mansells neck, but also his waist grew and grew over the years...

[Foxbat]

Originally posted by giacomo
Not only Mansells neck, but also his waist grew and grew over the years...

And his ego

[PassWind]

Hmm shows some fans need to exercise something other than their fingers.

I can assure you that its very easy to increase neck girth, when I played rugby my neck was considerably thicker through simple scrummage training and playing. Noticable differences within 12 months.

Now that I have retired from active play it has shrunk by 20% over time. The body adapts to its environment and I would be very confident that being in a high lateral g environment with a wieght on your head will indeed icrease you neck girth with little extra exercise needed, although I do not doubt they do neck exercises to ensure flexibility and strength for the racing effort.

[genespleen]

Originally posted by Foxbat


And his ego

and his....whinging gland

[Tolyngee]

Originally posted by HSJ
but years ago I thought DC's neck was ridiculously thick.

Considering his on-track incidents, DC indeed is one thick 'neck.

Mansell gaining weight? How 'bout Berger? He was so pencil-thin back in the late 80s. When I looked back at the highlights of GPs back then, and noted how thin he was, I couldn't help but wonder if this had any role in his 16(?) straight DNFs... Although the chemicals burns from the accident at Imola maybe hurt his ability to train for a period a time, but shouldn't have affected his ability to eat, meaning I would think he'd tend to become bigger if the burns played any part in it...

Who else has plumped after their careers? It would be weird if a few years down the road you can't tell Ross Brawn and MS apart from behind...

[Ferrari_F1_fan_2001]

Originally posted by Jacquesback


Freestyle wrestlers have been using bridging in exercise and competition for 100's of years. The only thing Tyson pioneered is cannibalism in the ring!

Many wrestlers use neck slings.

The first cannibal was Evander Holyfield, I believe he took a chunk out of someone's shoulder in his early career. Tyson was just good at seperating you from your senses and beating seven shades of **** out of you.

[Mauseri]

Originally posted by Foxbat
Definitly, people are clearly saying that all his succes is due to steroid-induced neck-widening rather than talent

It may be half true. He has stopped doing those physical mistakes towards the end of race (Brazil, Monza, many more) so indeed he must use streoids