Tension in F1
Formula 1 drivers have to face particularly difficult moments during a race weekend, both in terms of challenges on the track and extra-sporting tension. The latter, according to Charles Leclerc, coincides with one of the most complex moments to overcome for the Ferrari driver, despite his presence in the Circus world since 2018.
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The pre-race
Unlike athletes in other sports, who can isolate themselves and maintain high concentration before the race, the attention focused on a driver even before the start makes this moment one of the most challenging psychologically, as explained by Leclerc in the podcast BSMT: “I think getting to the starting grid is one of the hardest things in our sport – he commented – we do two or three laps to get lined up, then we stop and get out of the car. From that moment on, we have about twenty minutes to talk with the engineers, do the final briefing and prepare before going back in. During those minutes on the grid, there are thousands of people, including sponsors and fans, asking for photos and wanting to chat. At the same time, I receive all the information I need for the race. So it is essential to stay in my ‘bubble’, and this is ultimately the hardest part“.
The jump to F1
Winner of eight GPs, Leclerc explained the difficulty of having prepared from Formula 2 to Formula 1, now trying to follow a fixed routine before the race: “I had to completely change my approach when I moved from Formula 2 to Formula 1 – he admitted – in F2 no one knows you; you work relatively away from the spotlight throughout your career, you get in the car and that’s it. Then you find yourself in F1, and suddenly there are hundreds of thousands of people around you. It was very difficult in the first races, but luckily I got used to it quickly. However, it remains very difficult. Half an hour before getting in the car I practically always follow the same routine: I take a cold shower, warm up, and so on. By repeating it constantly, I manage to ‘reset’ for a moment and get into the right mindset.”
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