Mental vs physical: racing at speeds over 200mph

Written by Justyna Rosak, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri

Valtteri Bottas after securing victory at Suzuka in 2019 | Credit: Formula One

During a Formula One race, a driver’s body regularly withstands gravitational forces of up to 6 G’s — with extreme biological constraints intersecting the peak of physics in an exhilarating battle. Exceptional physical fitness, therefore, isn’t just impressive; it's essential.

As a result, every driver on the grid must commit to specialised training routines targeted towards conditioning the neck strength and core control, as well as improvement of reaction time, endurance and stamina. 

These form the minimum baseline, the physical requirements set out to simply qualify for setting foot onto the track. It is not to guarantee victory but just to ensure survival in a high-pressure environment.

However, in a sport where the margin for error borders on zero, and miscalculation draws the difference between a victory and a disaster, where exactly does mental health come into play? And what do drivers need to do to maintain their mental health in line with their physical stature?

Decision-making results from a complex network of electrical and chemical interactions between multiple regions of the brain. The average reaction time is 0.25 seconds — but in F1, that’s simply too slow.

In 2019, Valtteri Bottas shattered records with an impressive 0.04-second reaction, one that propelled him from third to the lead at Suzuka. However, this was not solely the product of instinct and reflexes but also of highly trained cognitive processing.

This emphasises the role of training and conditioning the mind’s ability to process high-speed information and respond to iconic, echoic and haptic inputs under both extreme internal and external pressures.

From handling the pressure to performing under intense race-day pressure, to managing the weight of personal, team and public expectations, drivers must navigate the mental battle, both on the track and off it.

In recent years, more and more drivers have spoken up about their experiences and shared their views on just how critical managing the mental elements of racing in F1 is with their fans.

Mercedes racer George Russell acknowledged the socialised disconnection between mental and physical health and expressed how beneficial speaking with a psychologist has been for both his driving performance and his personal life.  

McLaren’s Lando Norris has voiced the need for regular quality of sleep, nutrition and taking time away from the sport to manage the performance side of stress.

Aside from drivers, the FIA and various teams actively address athlete mental health. For instance, in honour of World Mental Health Day, McLaren shared their views on how important team psychiatrists and psychologists are in promoting an environment that puts mental health first.

This showcased the power of digital platforms and social media in challenging stigma and raising awareness of the importance of mental health.

Mental exercises aimed at training the driver’s ability to focus on the moment, rather than possible consequences are also commonly used by teams. Confidence and muscle memory directly feed into the trust drivers must have in themselves during high-risk moments demanding split-second decisions.

Nico Rosberg has opened up about personally using a mental health trainer during his time in F1, claiming it as an essential trait to beat Lewis Hamilton in his title-winning 2016 season. 

But when the risk of crashing, injury and death prevail, the moment that external start is engaged and gears shift, how does a driver face the fear factor?

With safety improvements such as the use of Kevlar and carbon fibre, and engineering improvements to cars and tracks through the introduction of halos and stronger crash barriers, the physical safety of driving a race car only continues to improve. However, overcoming the fear of danger itself relies heavily on mindset.

Roman Grosjean, ‘the man who walked through fire’ has demonstrated the true power that mindset has when seven months after his crash in Bahrain, he returned to the seat to test at Circuit Paul Ricard, his home track, before moving into IndyCar with Andretti the following year.

There is an evident interrelation between talent, fitness and mentality, while success on track is not independent of either.

High-speed racing is a demanding test of stamina and endurance, alongside resilience and fortitude. For every G force felt and limit reached, an F1 driver’s body is pushed beyond its limit until determination overrides the instinct of fear.

Where it may be talent that takes a driver to the grid, it seems it’s mental and cognitive strength and training that separates the race winners and the champions.