Bangkok--28 Sep--Philips Electronics
Team chef and physiotherapist provide health and well-being support to F1 drivers with Philips Consumer Lifestyle products
Singapore — To help the AT&T Williams team get geared up for the race in Singapore, Philips has decked out the team’s motorhome, located in the heart of the Singapore Grand Prix circuit’s paddock, with an array of the latest and best Philips lifestyle products that provide an immersive experience around the concept of health and well-being. The initiative is part of Philips’ Formula One (F1) partnership with AT&T Williams.
In its commitment to grow its position as a leading health and well-being brand, Philips worked closely with the AT&T Williams team to develop a dream motorhome that showcases Philips’ expansive range of consumer lifestyle products for keeping the AT&T Williams team members in peak physical and mental condition for the race.
“The partnership between the AT&T Williams team and Philips is a strategic alliance that brings together two companies with similar values and culture. More than being a strategic business decision, the sponsorship also provides the world-class AT&T Williams team with world-class physical wellness, nutrition and entertainment support from Philips,” said Patrick Overwijk, Global Sponsorship Manager, Philips Consumer Lifestyle.
Nick Hayes, AT&T Williams’ Philips Account Manager, said that the immersive experience created by Philips in the motorhome at the Singapore Grand Prix is a first for the team. “The unique combination of solutions from Philips to create the perfect working environment for the team over the race weekend is a big boost for us. From eating healthy meals to staying relaxed and rejuvenated, we believe that we have the best motorhome in the Formula One paddock,” he added.
Healthy cooking at F1
At the AT&T Williams team’s motorhome, team chef Adam Dixon demonstrated healthy dishes that he cooks up for the team’s drivers, Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima, using a range of Philips kitchen appliances including the Philips Pressure Rice Cooker.
“In terms of nutrition, Formula One drivers maintain a track-and-field athlete’s diet as the physical endurance required for each race is not unlike what is required to run a marathon. They typically lose about 2 kg or about 600 kilo-calories during a Grand Prix.
“As the team’s chef, I design the team’s diet to be low in fat and sugar in order to maintain a careful balance in the amount of carbohydrate and protein that the drivers absorb.
“During the race weekends in particular, I serve them a variety of carbohydrate-rich foods to provide energy and stamina for the race itself, and keep them hydrated with large amounts of water and juices to prevent dehydration from sweating. Philips’ range of juicers, blenders, water purifiers and the Pressure Rice Cooker have certainly helped me in my job to create a tasty diet that is nutritious and convenient,” said Dixon.
Healthy living is made easier with the Philips range of kitchen appliances, retaining the natural goodness of food that is prepared quickly and conveniently to meet the demands of even the toughest athletes. Healthy and nutritious meals are key to keeping the drivers and team in tip-top physical conditions, and it can be challenging to prepare healthy meals amidst the hectic F1 scheduling. Well-designed and multi-functional cooking appliances can help simplify and optimise this.
Relaxation and rejuvenation for the drivers & race team
The physical demands of motor racing put vast strains on the body, making Formula One drivers some of the most highly-conditioned athletes around. The team’s exercise physiologist, Nick Harris, trains the drivers’ to improve physical endurance through intensive cardio-vascular training, while also providing specific programmes for neck and chest training for the unique demands of the sport. According to Harris, strong neck muscles are required in order to withstand the intense loadings generated by cornering forces, while powerful arm muscles are required to control the car, especially during the longer races.
“Beyond physical fitness, I also look into acclimatising the athletes into each race held at different parts of the globe, and to create a state of well-being to maintain their peak performance. To do so, the Philips air purifiers have been excellent in maintaining optimal air quality regardless of location while the Infracare solution provides relief to the drivers’ tired muscles after each training session.
“Getting the drivers in the best frame of mind across different time zones is often tricky as it means battling their body clock. To do so, the Philips GoLITE BLU using clinically proven blue light therapy, regulates the drivers’ circadian which, in turn, lifts mood, boosts energy and aids sleep and digestion,” said Harris.
Creating a conducive environment within the motorhome to calm and relax the drivers and race team members over the hectic race weekend is also important. This is achieved through innovative indoor lighting solutions like the Philips LivingColors that can achieve 16 million colour variations at the touch of a button, as well as decking out the motorhome with an extensive range of cutting-edge video and audio entertainment solutions.
Whether to keep the team up-to-date with the latest news or to relax with movies, Philips has installed its latest range of TVs, SoundBar home theatre systems with high-definition Blu-ray format and Philips GoGear MP3 players for personal sound therapy.
Immersive experience by Philips at the AT&T Williams team motorhome
The AT&T Williams team motorhome provides a haven for the team just footsteps away from the circuit and comprises different zones that cater to their work and well-being.
The sections include a food preparation area, a dining and relaxation area, the drivers’ personal zone and the team’s various offices.
The food preparation area features a range of Philips products that chef Adam Dixon uses, while televisions, Ambisound Soundbar home theatre systems, Blu-ray players and micro systems are placed throughout the motorhome for every entertainment need. Air purifiers strategically placed throughout the motorhome provide optimal air quality for the team. A fruit juice station is located at the bar where GoGear Muse MP3 players are also available for the team to chill out to.
Philips’ latest home lighting innovation, EasyScene, is placed throughout the different areas of the motorhome. With an easy-to-use remote control, the team can configure the lighting for different areas and also adjust the perfect lighting level for different activities.
The Philips GoLITE BLU is also used in the team garage to keep the drivers and engineers acclimatised to the Singapore time zone, rounding up a health and wellness experience at the circuit for the AT&T Williams team at the 2009 Formula One Singapore Grand Prix.
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