DANNY RICS COACH ON OUR SOFA.. Michael Italiano - PART 2

Welcome back to the Pitstop Podcast! This is part 2 of our episode with Michael Italiano. Hope you loved part 1 as much as we did! You can follow Michael on his Instagram @michaelitaliano. Join us every Monday & Thursday for Q&As, guests, race predictions, and a whole load of laughter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

**Navigating the Complexities of Formula One as a Performance Coach: An In-Depth Conversation with Michael Italiano**

**Introduction:**

In this engaging and insightful podcast episode, Jake Boys and Fabio Bocca delve into the dynamic world of Formula One racing, specifically exploring the intricate role of a performance coach in this high-stakes sport. They are joined by Michael Italiano, a highly experienced performance coach who has worked closely with renowned Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo. Throughout the conversation, Michael sheds light on the challenges, strategies, and unique aspects of being a performance coach in Formula One, providing valuable insights into this fascinating realm.

**Key Points:**

1. **Understanding the Role of a Performance Coach in Formula One:**

- Michael emphasizes that a performance coach plays a crucial role in supporting and optimizing the performance of a Formula One driver.
- The coach's responsibilities extend beyond physical training to encompass mental and emotional well-being, strategic planning, and effective communication.
- The coach serves as a confidant, mentor, and guide, helping the driver navigate the pressures and demands of the sport.

2. **Managing Pressure and Maintaining Focus:**

- Formula One is a high-pressure environment where drivers face intense scrutiny and expectations.
- Michael discusses the importance of helping drivers manage pressure and maintain focus, particularly during challenging periods or after setbacks.
- He emphasizes the need for drivers to develop resilience, learn from mistakes, and cultivate a positive mindset.

3. **The 24-Hour Rule for Processing Race Results:**

- Michael introduces the "24-hour rule" as a strategy for dealing with race results, both positive and negative.
- He explains that drivers are given 24 hours to process their emotions and reflect on their performance before shifting their focus to the next race.
- This approach allows drivers to vent, learn from their experiences, and move forward with a clear and focused mindset.

4. **Adapting Strategies to Unforeseen Circumstances:**

- Michael highlights the importance of flexibility and adaptability in Formula One, given the unpredictable nature of the sport.
- He discusses the need for coaches and drivers to be prepared for unexpected events, such as qualifying setbacks or sudden changes in race conditions.
- The ability to quickly assess the situation and adjust strategies accordingly is crucial for success.

5. **Communication and Collaboration with the Team:**

- Michael stresses the significance of effective communication and collaboration between the performance coach, the driver, and the wider team.
- He emphasizes the need for open dialogue, trust, and mutual respect among all parties involved.
- The coach acts as a bridge between the driver and the team, ensuring that everyone is aligned and working towards common goals.

6. **Analyzing Performance and Identifying Areas for Improvement:**

- Michael explains how he analyzes Daniel Ricciardo's performance during races, focusing on aspects such as defending, attacking, and decision-making.
- He provides constructive feedback to Daniel, helping him identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to enhance his performance.
- The coach's observations and insights play a vital role in Daniel's continuous development as a driver.

7. **Embracing Innovation and Continuously Learning:**

- Michael highlights the importance of embracing innovation and staying updated with the latest advancements in sports science and performance training.
- He discusses his ongoing exploration of neuroscience and cognitive training to optimize Daniel's mental and perceptual skills.
- The coach's commitment to learning and adapting ensures that Daniel has access to the most cutting-edge training methods and techniques.

8. **The Unique Fan Engagement in Formula One:**

- Michael reflects on the unique fan engagement opportunities in Formula One, where fans can interact with drivers and team members in close proximity.
- He contrasts this with other sports, where such interactions are often limited or restricted.
- The accessibility and approachability of Formula One drivers create a special bond between them and their fans.

**Conclusion:**

Michael Italiano's expertise and insights provide a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted role of a performance coach in Formula One. His emphasis on mental and emotional support, strategic planning, and effective communication highlights the critical importance of this position in optimizing driver performance and achieving success in this highly competitive sport. The podcast episode offers a valuable glimpse into the world of Formula One and the intricate relationship between drivers and their performance coaches. # Podcast Transcript Summary:

## Title: The Challenges of Being a Formula One Driver and the Importance of Support Systems

### Key Points:

* **Demanding Schedule:** Formula One drivers have an incredibly demanding schedule, with extensive media commitments in addition to the physical and mental challenges of racing. They often have to balance multiple media appearances on race weekends, which can be mentally taxing and detract from their focus on the race itself.
* **Importance of Support Systems:** Due to the demanding nature of Formula One, drivers rely heavily on their support systems, including coaches, trainers, and family members, to help them cope with the pressures of the sport. These support systems provide emotional and practical assistance, enabling drivers to maintain their focus and perform at their best.
* **Daniel Ricciardo's Current Struggles:** Daniel Ricciardo, a renowned Formula One driver, has been experiencing difficulties this season, primarily due to his unfamiliarity with his current car. The McLaren car has specific driving characteristics that differ from what Ricciardo is accustomed to, making it challenging for him to adapt and perform at his usual level.
* **Maintaining a Positive Mindset:** Despite his struggles, Ricciardo has maintained a positive mindset and remains focused on the process of improving and adapting to the car. He recognizes that setbacks are a part of the journey and believes that he can overcome these challenges with continued effort and dedication.
* **Importance of Balance:** Both Ricciardo and his coach, Michael Italiano, emphasize the importance of achieving a healthy balance between personal and professional life. They recognize that Formula One is not the sole focus of their lives and that engaging in activities outside of racing can help them maintain their mental well-being and prevent burnout.
* **Strong Relationships with Performance Coaches:** Italiano highlights the strong relationships that drivers typically have with their performance coaches, given the amount of time they spend together and the personal nature of their work. These relationships are crucial for fostering trust, communication, and mutual support, which are essential for driver development and success.
* **The Lonely Side of Formula One:** Italiano acknowledges that Formula One can be a lonely sport, with drivers often traveling and living out of suitcases. The constant movement and lack of routine can make it difficult to maintain close relationships and build a sense of community. Having a strong support system and finding ways to connect with others can help mitigate this loneliness.

### Overall Message:

Formula One is a demanding sport that requires drivers to have exceptional physical and mental abilities. Support systems, including coaches, trainers, and family members, play a vital role in helping drivers cope with the pressures of the sport and maintain their focus and performance. Maintaining a positive mindset, finding a healthy balance between personal and professional life, and fostering strong relationships with performance coaches are key factors in driver success. Additionally, addressing the loneliness that can accompany the Formula One lifestyle is important for driver well-being and overall performance.

[00:00.000 -> 00:04.080] This episode is presented to you by NFL Sunday Ticket,
[00:04.080 -> 00:05.960] now on YouTube and YouTube TV.
[00:05.960 -> 00:08.800] With NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube and YouTube TV,
[00:08.800 -> 00:11.520] you can watch your favorite teams out of market Sunday games,
[00:11.520 -> 00:13.840] plus watch up to four games at once with multi-view.
[00:13.840 -> 00:15.680] Don't miss the race to the playoffs.
[00:15.680 -> 00:19.600] NFL Sunday Ticket is now just $39 when bundled with YouTube TV,
[00:19.600 -> 00:21.320] where you get even more football.
[00:21.320 -> 00:24.440] Visit youtube.com slash Spotify offer to sign up now.
[00:24.440 -> 00:28.840] Lowest price on YouTube TV with Base Plan. Rest of 2023 season. Terms and embargoes apply. No
[00:28.840 -> 00:30.800] cancellations.
[00:30.800 -> 00:35.400] Reboot your credit card with Apple Card, the credit card created by Apple. It gives you
[00:35.400 -> 00:39.680] unlimited daily cash back that you can now choose to grow in a high-yield savings account
[00:39.680 -> 00:44.480] that's built right into the Wallet app. Apply for Apple Card now in the Wallet app on iPhone
[00:44.480 -> 00:49.160] and start growing your daily cash with savings today. Apple Card subject to credit approval.
[00:49.160 -> 00:52.160] Savings is available to Apple Card owners subject to eligibility requirements. Savings
[00:52.160 -> 00:55.840] accounts provided by Goldman Sachs Bank USA. Member FDIC. Terms apply.
[00:55.840 -> 01:03.520] G'day, guys and girls. Welcome back to part two. All right. We are still Dan Under with
[01:03.520 -> 01:05.000] Michael Italiano.
[01:05.000 -> 01:06.360] Oh, that's great.
[01:06.360 -> 01:07.200] Let's roll part two.
[01:07.200 -> 01:08.480] I've stopped doing that now.
[01:08.480 -> 01:09.440] That's great.
[01:09.440 -> 01:10.640] Welcome to part two.
[01:10.640 -> 01:12.320] We hope you enjoyed part one.
[01:12.320 -> 01:15.360] This is with Michael Italiano, absolute legend.
[01:15.360 -> 01:16.360] We hope you enjoy it.
[01:16.360 -> 01:17.840] Let's have it.
[01:17.840 -> 01:18.680] What did Brad say?
[01:18.680 -> 01:21.120] He basically, yeah, he did something on the visor.
[01:21.120 -> 01:22.880] Oh, he didn't take the inside film off.
[01:22.880 -> 01:23.840] I've done that.
[01:23.840 -> 01:24.680] Really?
[01:24.680 -> 01:25.920] Yeah, I've done that.
[01:25.920 -> 01:26.920] My bad.
[01:26.920 -> 01:27.920] I've given him two left hand gloves.
[01:27.920 -> 01:33.760] And he just like, and he'd like, because he had his helmet on and he can't talk to me,
[01:33.760 -> 01:34.760] he's just like waving it at me.
[01:34.760 -> 01:37.760] And I'm just like, I'm like, yeah, man, it's a glove.
[01:37.760 -> 01:40.760] Like, he's like waving it.
[01:40.760 -> 01:44.800] I just stood there and then he's engineering because I can hear him on the mic.
[01:44.800 -> 01:46.760] Michael, he needs a right-hand glove.
[01:46.760 -> 01:49.080] And everyone's just looking at me
[01:49.080 -> 01:50.800] and just trying to really act cool
[01:50.800 -> 01:52.640] and walk back to your bag and like, yep.
[01:52.640 -> 01:54.760] I'm gonna start you on the track by this point.
[01:54.760 -> 01:56.080] We're in the garage and they're about to obviously
[01:56.080 -> 01:56.920] let him out.
[01:58.040 -> 02:00.080] So yeah, I obviously couldn't hear him
[02:00.080 -> 02:03.200] but he's just flapping this glove at me.
[02:03.200 -> 02:04.040] That's so funny.
[02:04.040 -> 02:04.860] Yeah, yeah.
[02:04.860 -> 02:08.160] So yeah, that's probably the most stupid thing I've done.
[02:08.160 -> 02:09.520] Yeah, for sure.
[02:09.520 -> 02:10.720] It's all part of the story.
[02:10.720 -> 02:12.560] It's all part of the story, yeah.
[02:12.560 -> 02:14.320] It's so funny, you said the same thing,
[02:14.320 -> 02:17.080] like F1 seems so streamlined and on point
[02:17.080 -> 02:18.120] and everything's perfect,
[02:18.120 -> 02:19.440] but you have these little bits
[02:19.440 -> 02:20.360] which people don't know about
[02:20.360 -> 02:22.200] where stuff just doesn't quite match up
[02:22.200 -> 02:23.960] or go the right way.
[02:23.960 -> 02:24.880] It's such a technical sport.
[02:24.880 -> 02:26.680] There's so much going on. there's like so much that could
[02:26.680 -> 02:30.760] go wrong, so much people have got to think about, so much pressure on like different
[02:30.760 -> 02:31.760] people.
[02:31.760 -> 02:36.580] Do you feel a load of pressure on you on race day or do you feel pressure on like the pressure
[02:36.580 -> 02:37.580] for Daniel?
[02:37.580 -> 02:42.460] Yeah, I think initially I felt a little, I wouldn't say pressure, I'd say nerves.
[02:42.460 -> 02:46.640] Because there's a lot riding on these races, Like some races you're flying, you know,
[02:46.640 -> 02:49.880] up to 14 hours to get to a destination
[02:49.880 -> 02:52.760] and you commit like seven days in this one destination
[02:52.760 -> 02:55.000] to prepare for this one moment.
[02:55.000 -> 02:57.160] And then your race could be over in 30 seconds, right?
[02:57.160 -> 02:58.000] Yeah.
[02:58.000 -> 02:59.560] So it's more so the nerves just
[02:59.560 -> 03:01.920] because there are so many parameters that can go wrong
[03:01.920 -> 03:04.520] out of your control in motorsport.
[03:04.520 -> 03:08.080] And I think that's what brought on the nerves to me with me initially.
[03:08.080 -> 03:10.140] I was like, okay, I just want a smooth race.
[03:10.140 -> 03:11.440] I just want to see him race.
[03:11.440 -> 03:13.900] Cause I know if, if, if he stays out there and he finishes the
[03:13.900 -> 03:15.060] race, he's going to have a good race.
[03:15.120 -> 03:16.740] That was just my confidence in him.
[03:16.740 -> 03:21.120] So I think over time, like you learn to control those nerves.
[03:21.540 -> 03:25.920] Um, as you get experienced, I think I get more nervous in qualifying to be fair
[03:25.920 -> 03:29.580] and maybe the start of a race, but once that's over,
[03:29.580 -> 03:31.880] it's like head down, I got my little notebook
[03:31.880 -> 03:34.280] and I'll take some notes and just pretty much
[03:34.280 -> 03:35.520] get into work mode.
[03:35.520 -> 03:37.960] But yeah, I'd say maybe the first year
[03:37.960 -> 03:38.960] I felt a little bit.
[03:38.960 -> 03:41.520] And obviously when, if you're having a little bit
[03:41.520 -> 03:43.820] of a dry spell from a results perspective,
[03:44.720 -> 03:45.040] you do feel a little bit of pressure because spell from a results perspective, you do feel
[03:45.040 -> 03:48.060] a little bit of pressure because you are part of that team, right?
[03:48.060 -> 03:51.740] You are responsible for his performance in some way.
[03:51.740 -> 03:56.440] So yeah, you need to learn how to deal with pressure.
[03:56.440 -> 04:01.240] You know, I like to take a different perspective on pressure.
[04:01.240 -> 04:03.080] I like to say that pressure is a privilege, right?
[04:03.080 -> 04:06.800] So if you're feeling pressure, it's because you're doing something that's worthy.
[04:06.800 -> 04:09.800] Yeah, that you really want to be the best at, you want to put the best performance.
[04:09.800 -> 04:10.400] It's so true.
[04:10.400 -> 04:13.800] It's true, because if you're not feeling pressure, you don't care about it.
[04:13.800 -> 04:16.200] Yeah, and it's not worthy enough to you, right?
[04:16.200 -> 04:19.800] So I like to throw a bit of positive reinforcement, you know, if Daniel was ever feeling pressure,
[04:19.800 -> 04:22.800] it's like, cool, man, well, you're in a privileged position because that pressure you're feeling right now,
[04:22.800 -> 04:25.060] there's millions of people that rather have that pressure.
[04:25.060 -> 04:25.900] On you.
[04:25.900 -> 04:26.720] It's true.
[04:26.720 -> 04:27.760] So you got to put it into perspective a little bit.
[04:27.760 -> 04:28.600] Yeah, for sure.
[04:28.600 -> 04:29.780] For sure.
[04:29.780 -> 04:32.440] Do you feel like, so how are things this year?
[04:32.440 -> 04:33.860] I know you, when you say like, you know,
[04:33.860 -> 04:36.080] if things don't go the right way in terms of results
[04:36.080 -> 04:38.420] or points, it can change the dynamic
[04:38.420 -> 04:39.500] and how things is going on.
[04:39.500 -> 04:42.900] What's it like this year compared to previous years?
[04:42.900 -> 04:47.640] Yeah, it's tough because our mindset doesn't change.
[04:47.640 -> 04:52.480] Like we're a very resilient bunch and Daniel is very resilient in himself.
[04:52.480 -> 04:55.660] And you can tell that because he oozes it every time he does an interview, like he's
[04:55.660 -> 05:00.880] always super level-headed about everything and you know, yeah, he just seems like he
[05:00.880 -> 05:02.280] handles it quite well.
[05:02.280 -> 05:08.400] Yeah, media can be brutal at times, right? But again like I I put that down to to pressure, right?
[05:08.400 -> 05:11.900] So I'm just like oh, hang on a second. They're talking about you for a reason. It's because
[05:12.540 -> 05:17.240] They're that they expect more from you, which is fine because you can't control their expectations, but
[05:18.000 -> 05:23.220] You also have to I'm trying to understand you don't want to listen to the white noise the background noise, right?
[05:23.220 -> 05:25.200] You don't want listen to the white noise, the background noise, right? You don't wanna get distracted
[05:25.200 -> 05:27.080] on what other people are saying,
[05:27.080 -> 05:28.520] what other people are thinking,
[05:28.520 -> 05:29.360] because at the end of the day,
[05:29.360 -> 05:31.500] you need to focus on your process and what you can control.
[05:31.500 -> 05:33.040] We can't control what the media say.
[05:33.040 -> 05:35.400] We can't control what people think, right?
[05:35.400 -> 05:37.780] And there's no point even throwing any energy
[05:37.780 -> 05:38.620] in that direction
[05:38.620 -> 05:41.200] because you can't control people's emotions, right?
[05:41.200 -> 05:42.440] Yeah, it's physically impossible.
[05:42.440 -> 05:47.400] So it's all about just staying very narrow-minded on what our process is, right? We know what works, right? Yeah, it's physically impossible. So it's all about just staying very narrow-minded on what on what our process is
[05:47.560 -> 05:51.100] Right, we know what works right? He knows what works right? He's it's proven
[05:51.100 -> 05:56.580] He's proven that he can be one of the best drivers on the grid based on when we focus on the process
[05:56.580 -> 06:01.280] and I think the frustrating part is you know, there is a process and then there's also
[06:01.880 -> 06:07.040] There's like I said, there's parameters outside of your control that do have,
[06:07.040 -> 06:10.640] do make a difference to the outcome and to the results.
[06:10.640 -> 06:11.480] Right?
[06:11.480 -> 06:13.480] And that's something that it's hard to,
[06:13.480 -> 06:14.760] it's hard to harness sometimes,
[06:14.760 -> 06:17.440] cause you're like, okay, I'm doing everything in my power.
[06:17.440 -> 06:19.980] I'm working hard, I'm focusing on what I need to focus on,
[06:19.980 -> 06:21.640] but the results are there, aren't there.
[06:21.640 -> 06:22.480] Right?
[06:22.480 -> 06:24.920] And it's so easy to label yourself based on your results.
[06:24.920 -> 06:25.720] Of course. It's so easy. I think, yeah, it's so easy to label yourself based on your results. Of course, yeah.
[06:25.720 -> 06:26.560] It's so easy.
[06:26.560 -> 06:27.600] I think, yeah, it's so important to remember
[06:27.600 -> 06:29.560] Formula One is such a team sport as well.
[06:29.560 -> 06:32.440] So much has to work within everything, you know,
[06:32.440 -> 06:34.560] car, everything has to come together.
[06:34.560 -> 06:35.400] Correct.
[06:35.400 -> 06:36.600] It made me think of something I saw in your story.
[06:36.600 -> 06:38.640] Did I see you're a Liverpool fan?
[06:38.640 -> 06:39.480] Yeah.
[06:39.480 -> 06:41.960] Yeah, because you put a mug up and you had a Liverpool logo.
[06:41.960 -> 06:42.880] Do you watch football? Yeah.
[06:42.880 -> 06:43.720] Yeah, I love football.
[06:43.720 -> 06:44.920] What did you, I wanted to ask you
[06:44.920 -> 06:46.600] from a performance coach point of view.
[06:46.600 -> 06:47.440] Yeah.
[06:47.440 -> 06:49.120] What about Nunes' headbutt?
[06:49.120 -> 06:49.960] Not good, is it?
[06:49.960 -> 06:50.780] Atrocious.
[06:50.780 -> 06:51.620] That's not good.
[06:51.620 -> 06:53.080] Mate, that was your talent.
[06:53.080 -> 06:55.120] If you were his coach and he would have did that,
[06:55.120 -> 06:56.120] what would you do?
[06:57.160 -> 06:58.920] Well, he's obviously getting two weeks for the red card.
[06:58.920 -> 06:59.760] Yeah.
[06:59.760 -> 07:00.660] I'd sit him out for four.
[07:00.660 -> 07:01.500] Wow.
[07:01.500 -> 07:02.320] Yeah.
[07:02.320 -> 07:03.280] It was really bad, fam.
[07:03.280 -> 07:04.120] I know you don't watch football.
[07:04.120 -> 07:04.940] I haven't seen it.
[07:04.940 -> 07:07.000] I'm probably being like harsh. Like I'm sure like again,
[07:07.000 -> 07:12.000] never judge a book by its cover. Like it could have been a more deeper thing that happened between,
[07:12.000 -> 07:19.000] I don't know who the defender was, but the simple, the simple answer is like you made a,
[07:19.000 -> 07:22.000] you made a selfish act which affected the entire team. Yeah. Right.
[07:22.000 -> 07:27.600] So you put yourself first before the team. And I think that's, I hope the biggest lesson
[07:27.600 -> 07:30.280] that he learns from that is don't put yourself first
[07:30.280 -> 07:33.620] because that's, it's at where he is at the moment
[07:33.620 -> 07:34.460] coming into a new team,
[07:34.460 -> 07:37.080] he's trying to earn respect of his new peers, right?
[07:37.080 -> 07:38.240] He's trying to lead by example,
[07:38.240 -> 07:40.440] but okay, I'm worthy of this team.
[07:40.440 -> 07:42.280] I'm worthy of being in this position.
[07:43.680 -> 07:44.520] Last thing you want to do
[07:44.520 -> 07:46.320] is do something selfish like that.
[07:46.320 -> 07:48.280] Has Daniel ever done anything
[07:48.280 -> 07:50.000] that has made you have to do that to him?
[07:50.000 -> 07:51.360] Has he ever done anything where you've had to like
[07:51.360 -> 07:53.200] tell him off or punch this about?
[07:53.200 -> 07:54.040] I'll get you.
[07:54.040 -> 07:56.440] Imagine that.
[07:56.440 -> 07:59.600] No, look, to be honest, no, but you know,
[07:59.600 -> 08:01.680] there are moments where you do need to put your coaching hat
[08:01.680 -> 08:03.960] on and you give him a bit of a wise word or, you know,
[08:03.960 -> 08:07.340] sometimes their head does go in a different direction
[08:07.340 -> 08:08.420] and then they're not aware of it.
[08:08.420 -> 08:11.120] And sometimes that's when it's your job to bring them back.
[08:11.120 -> 08:13.420] But hang on a second, that's not what we're focusing on.
[08:13.420 -> 08:14.400] We're focusing on this.
[08:14.400 -> 08:16.440] And like, again, throwing a bit of perspective
[08:16.440 -> 08:18.620] because I'm not sure if you guys have competed,
[08:18.620 -> 08:21.500] but in competition, controlling your emotions
[08:21.500 -> 08:23.600] is super difficult, right?
[08:23.600 -> 08:25.240] And if you lose control of your emotions, you lose control of your And if you lose control of your emotions,
[08:25.240 -> 08:26.440] you lose control of your thinking,
[08:26.440 -> 08:28.400] you lose control of your perspective,
[08:28.400 -> 08:30.460] and you can really start to spiral.
[08:30.460 -> 08:33.040] And that can happen post-race.
[08:33.040 -> 08:36.720] Like I said, if you label yourself based on what you do
[08:36.720 -> 08:37.640] rather than who you are,
[08:37.640 -> 08:40.200] so if you base yourself on your results,
[08:40.200 -> 08:42.320] then you can start getting into a bit of a negative mindset
[08:42.320 -> 08:47.520] or hang on a sec, I'm not good enough. Or yeah, and then that's when you need a coach,
[08:47.520 -> 08:48.560] but hang on a second.
[08:48.560 -> 08:50.360] That's pretty much why I stopped playing football.
[08:50.360 -> 08:52.120] I used to play a little bit of side my whole life.
[08:52.120 -> 08:54.920] And then I played up front, dry up with the goals.
[08:54.920 -> 08:56.160] You start getting a bit older.
[08:56.160 -> 08:57.480] You don't feel happy on the pitch.
[08:57.480 -> 08:58.880] I'd run around and I'd be sick.
[08:58.880 -> 09:01.600] I'd have other things on my mind for the first time.
[09:01.600 -> 09:04.360] And I can imagine that in like a driver's head as well.
[09:04.360 -> 09:05.480] That can be fully focused.
[09:05.480 -> 09:06.320] And then-
[09:06.320 -> 09:07.160] See, it's so different.
[09:07.160 -> 09:07.980] It's so different in music
[09:07.980 -> 09:10.320] because you have to maintain the,
[09:10.320 -> 09:12.680] I need to make sure I'm on time when I play the drums,
[09:12.680 -> 09:15.200] but then emotion is everything in music.
[09:15.200 -> 09:18.120] And I suppose it is the same in driving as well.
[09:18.120 -> 09:20.880] Like if you're a born and bred driver,
[09:20.880 -> 09:22.720] then you're gonna be so emotional about it.
[09:22.720 -> 09:24.000] But I feel like in music,
[09:24.000 -> 09:25.520] you can let your emotions go a bit more.
[09:25.520 -> 09:26.520] Yeah, definitely.
[09:26.520 -> 09:27.520] I don't really know.
[09:27.520 -> 09:30.920] We need to get Lexus Kings playing at a Formula One.
[09:30.920 -> 09:31.920] Yeah, we do.
[09:31.920 -> 09:35.920] We want Fab's band to headline one of the Formula One events at some point. That's one
[09:35.920 -> 09:36.920] of our goals.
[09:36.920 -> 09:37.920] Yeah, I reckon you can make it happen.
[09:37.920 -> 09:38.920] Yeah.
[09:38.920 -> 09:40.920] It'd be pretty cool. Silverstone had a massive stage, didn't it?
[09:40.920 -> 09:44.280] Yeah, it did. To be fair, we managed to make quite a lot of crazy things happen with this
[09:44.280 -> 09:46.160] podcast and we don't really know how.
[09:46.160 -> 09:48.200] What do you listen to?
[09:48.200 -> 09:49.520] Bit of everything.
[09:49.520 -> 09:52.200] The flavor of the week at the moment has been Gang of Youth.
[09:52.200 -> 09:53.360] I love that flavor of the week.
[09:53.360 -> 09:54.200] Yeah, Gang of Youth.
[09:54.200 -> 09:55.680] I do love Gang of Youth.
[09:55.680 -> 09:57.880] I've seen them in London and New York at the time.
[09:57.880 -> 09:59.520] They're really cool.
[09:59.520 -> 10:00.360] Bit of country.
[10:00.360 -> 10:03.640] So I just got myself actually a record player.
[10:03.640 -> 10:06.240] So I started collecting records.
[10:06.240 -> 10:10.480] So I bought like, yeah, Ziggy Roberts
[10:10.480 -> 10:11.940] and then like Camp as well.
[10:11.940 -> 10:13.780] So like I bought a couple,
[10:13.780 -> 10:16.580] I'm like very early in the stages of building
[10:16.580 -> 10:17.800] like a record collection.
[10:17.800 -> 10:20.140] And I don't know, something about in the morning
[10:20.140 -> 10:21.980] when you put a record on and you hear the crackling.
[10:21.980 -> 10:24.200] The little, it's so different to just playing it
[10:24.200 -> 10:27.200] on like your UE boom or like your portable speaker.
[10:27.200 -> 10:28.480] Just, I don't know, the sound's different.
[10:28.480 -> 10:31.040] I can't... Is it actually different? Do you know?
[10:31.040 -> 10:33.680] Yeah, it is. Yeah, it's very technical.
[10:33.680 -> 10:37.360] But like the vinyls, they're much like smoother sound for some reason.
[10:37.360 -> 10:39.600] So when you hear like the old like orchestral songs,
[10:39.600 -> 10:42.240] like with like trumpets and horns and violins,
[10:42.240 -> 10:44.720] they're always... it's always so much smoother on a vinyl.
[10:44.720 -> 10:47.440] And like the human voice is a lot smoother on vinyl.
[10:47.440 -> 10:50.040] Yeah, I find just like making my coffee in the morning,
[10:50.040 -> 10:51.880] listening to some vinyls, I'm just like in this flow,
[10:51.880 -> 10:53.240] I'm like, yeah, I'm digging this.
[10:53.240 -> 10:55.160] Floating, love it.
[10:55.160 -> 10:56.160] Yeah, give it a go.
[10:56.160 -> 10:59.600] It's, I'm probably real late with the craze
[10:59.600 -> 11:01.440] because I heard like record,
[11:01.440 -> 11:03.440] like collecting records has like been booming
[11:03.440 -> 11:04.280] the last couple of years.
[11:04.280 -> 11:06.120] So I'm a bit behind the craze right now,
[11:06.120 -> 11:08.600] but it's been a little hobby of mine of like.
[11:08.600 -> 11:09.560] Nice, I like it.
[11:09.560 -> 11:10.400] Yeah.
[11:10.400 -> 11:11.220] Love it.
[11:11.220 -> 11:12.640] Yeah, just going back to what you were saying about like
[11:12.640 -> 11:14.820] media and you know, post race and stuff,
[11:14.820 -> 11:16.120] thinking about stuff like that.
[11:16.120 -> 11:17.400] Did I hear you say something about,
[11:17.400 -> 11:19.380] you have this like 24 hour rule?
[11:19.380 -> 11:20.260] Yep.
[11:20.260 -> 11:21.100] What is that?
[11:22.040 -> 11:23.680] So the 24 hour rule is,
[11:23.680 -> 11:30.280] I pretty much give Daniel 24 hours to vent about what he, what
[11:30.280 -> 11:31.400] essentially happened.
[11:31.400 -> 11:36.000] So whether it's, if it's a, if it's a race where he had an unfortunate result or, or
[11:36.000 -> 11:44.880] a race where he didn't meet his expectations, I give him 24 hours to vent and do as he please,
[11:44.880 -> 11:48.000] whether it's stay in his room and just eat pizza
[11:48.000 -> 11:51.120] and not talk to anyone or just give himself time to-
[11:51.120 -> 11:53.480] Spicy pizza, that's the one.
[11:53.480 -> 11:55.840] I've been doing a bit of research for this one.
[11:55.840 -> 11:56.680] Spicy pizza.
[11:56.680 -> 11:57.760] Yeah, spicy pizza.
[11:57.760 -> 12:01.240] Yeah, spicy salami pizza is his go-to, I think.
[12:02.240 -> 12:04.840] And then yeah, after 24 hours is done,
[12:04.840 -> 12:08.600] then our focus, we accept it.
[12:08.600 -> 12:10.840] So you accept the result, right?
[12:10.840 -> 12:12.080] Acknowledge what happened,
[12:12.080 -> 12:13.860] and then you reframe for the next race.
[12:13.860 -> 12:17.040] Because this calendar comes around so quick, right?
[12:17.040 -> 12:20.560] You don't have time to dwell on the past, right?
[12:20.560 -> 12:22.280] And if you do, you're behind.
[12:22.280 -> 12:23.800] You're behind, you're not thinking about the next race,
[12:23.800 -> 12:24.640] right?
[12:24.640 -> 12:26.240] You need to reframe and start preparing for the next race.
[12:26.240 -> 12:29.160] And there's so much to do to prepare for a race,
[12:29.160 -> 12:30.720] especially in this sport.
[12:30.720 -> 12:32.960] It's 20 of the most fastest people on the planet.
[12:32.960 -> 12:35.360] Like you need to make sure that you're up,
[12:35.360 -> 12:39.040] you're a hundred percent or you are gonna lack.
[12:39.040 -> 12:39.960] You are gonna fall behind.
[12:39.960 -> 12:42.320] So yeah, that's my 24 hour rule.
[12:42.320 -> 12:45.080] It's like, give yourself 24 hours to vent, do your thing.
[12:45.080 -> 12:47.800] But once we wake up and I knock on your door,
[12:47.800 -> 12:49.120] it's all focused on the next race.
[12:49.120 -> 12:49.960] Go time.
[12:49.960 -> 12:51.960] How do you maintain 24 hour rule
[12:51.960 -> 12:53.280] after like a qualifying day?
[12:53.280 -> 12:54.560] If qualifying doesn't go to plan,
[12:54.560 -> 12:55.680] but he's got a race on Sunday,
[12:55.680 -> 12:57.600] obviously you haven't got probably 24 hours.
[12:57.600 -> 13:00.180] So if qualifying didn't go to plan,
[13:00.180 -> 13:01.320] what would be like your job then?
[13:01.320 -> 13:03.360] If he comes off really pissed off, really stressed,
[13:03.360 -> 13:04.680] like something's gone wrong, you know,
[13:04.680 -> 13:10.000] like obviously keep him away from media and that that or whatever, well, to be fair, it'd be funny on media no matter what he does
[13:10.000 -> 13:11.200] but what's your job then?
[13:11.200 -> 13:12.480] Can never keep him away from media
[13:12.480 -> 13:13.600] No, he loves it!
[13:13.600 -> 13:14.720] Does he love it?
[13:14.720 -> 13:17.760] No, what I meant by that is like they've always got media commitments so you can't
[13:17.760 -> 13:18.240] Oh yeah
[13:18.240 -> 13:20.080] Well, because they're always in the media pen after quali, right?
[13:20.080 -> 13:21.680] So you can't avoid the media
[13:22.320 -> 13:25.760] I find that, by the way, I find that whole media pen so intense.
[13:25.760 -> 13:28.640] Like to take a guy who has just done something
[13:28.640 -> 13:31.520] which he is born to do, it's his heart and soul,
[13:31.520 -> 13:34.240] and he hasn't had the best result for whatever reason,
[13:34.240 -> 13:36.680] to then come out, be thrust in front of a camera,
[13:36.680 -> 13:39.560] and not just Daniel, you see it in every single driver.
[13:39.560 -> 13:40.400] If they've had a bad day,
[13:40.400 -> 13:41.640] you can just see it in their eyes.
[13:41.640 -> 13:43.320] They're like, man, I'm hurt.
[13:43.320 -> 13:45.040] And if they DNF and they come out early,
[13:45.040 -> 13:46.600] don't they have to go and do the interview
[13:46.600 -> 13:48.000] whilst the rest of the race is going on?
[13:48.000 -> 13:49.880] They get back early, everyone else is still racing
[13:49.880 -> 13:51.720] and they're standing there chatting about,
[13:51.720 -> 13:52.680] that's horrendous.
[13:52.680 -> 13:53.880] I don't think they should do that.
[13:53.880 -> 13:55.440] Yeah, it is brutal.
[13:56.280 -> 13:57.760] I agree, it is tough.
[13:57.760 -> 13:59.280] Like if you're having a tough qualifying session,
[13:59.280 -> 14:01.120] you throw yourself in front of,
[14:01.120 -> 14:02.960] you know, I think it's sometimes it's like five,
[14:02.960 -> 14:05.740] six media outlets within that pen. And they've all got their mic in the face like that. And you know, I think it's sometimes it's like five, six media outlets within that pen.
[14:05.740 -> 14:07.820] And they've all got their mic in the face like that.
[14:07.820 -> 14:09.940] And you know, they're obviously very direct.
[14:09.940 -> 14:10.780] Yeah.
[14:10.780 -> 14:11.600] They don't soften the blow.
[14:11.600 -> 14:12.820] But you know, that comes with the territory.
[14:12.820 -> 14:14.060] And that is a good question.
[14:14.060 -> 14:15.660] Like the 24 hour rule does not exist
[14:15.660 -> 14:17.480] after on a Saturday for sure.
[14:18.380 -> 14:20.180] The one thing I would say is,
[14:20.180 -> 14:23.380] like what makes it easy is that you can reframe that, right?
[14:23.380 -> 14:27.200] Because yes, you may not have had a good qualifying.
[14:27.200 -> 14:29.120] However, you have a new opportunity tomorrow.
[14:29.120 -> 14:30.320] Yeah, you have a chance.
[14:30.320 -> 14:32.600] So there's a new opportunity tomorrow, right?
[14:32.600 -> 14:35.040] It's a bigger opportunity tomorrow, right?
[14:35.040 -> 14:37.440] So let's think about that, right?
[14:37.440 -> 14:41.840] Yes, okay, qualifying can set you up for a better race,
[14:41.840 -> 14:42.800] but not all the time, right?
[14:42.800 -> 14:47.720] Like I said, we spoke about a lot of contingencies that can happen at the start, you know during a race
[14:48.340 -> 14:50.460] strategy weather so I
[14:50.880 -> 14:57.020] Guess you can put you can play into that if you're having a difficult if you've had a difficult qualifying to be like hang on
[14:57.020 -> 15:03.940] A second. There are a lot of things that can that can work to your advantage here whether it's strategy go on a hard
[15:04.140 -> 15:07.360] Stay out late Look for a safety car.
[15:07.360 -> 15:08.880] We see it time and time again, right?
[15:08.880 -> 15:11.360] So, and you know, a perfect example is, you know,
[15:11.360 -> 15:14.340] he won in Baku from I think P16.
[15:14.340 -> 15:15.340] Yeah.
[15:15.340 -> 15:16.180] Yeah.
[15:16.180 -> 15:18.280] Are you ever involved in any of the strategies?
[15:18.280 -> 15:19.120] I should have known that.
[15:19.120 -> 15:21.180] Or you just hear it and they make the strategy?
[15:21.180 -> 15:23.520] No, so they obviously have a strategy team
[15:23.520 -> 15:27.360] and him and the race engineer will talk strategy.
[15:27.360 -> 15:32.280] I do like driving back to our hotel, I do like to understand what they're doing and
[15:32.280 -> 15:38.160] I give him my two cents and he'll obviously take it on board.
[15:38.160 -> 15:41.200] But I do like to have a little bit of a say but not too much because at the end of the
[15:41.200 -> 15:45.120] day, he's in those meetings. Those guys do what they do.
[15:45.120 -> 15:46.480] So yeah, most of the time it's,
[15:46.480 -> 15:47.320] they leave it to the professionals.
[15:47.320 -> 15:48.600] Because I see you have a headset on
[15:48.600 -> 15:50.160] and a lot of pictures when you walk and move in,
[15:50.160 -> 15:52.040] and I just wondered who you were talking to.
[15:52.040 -> 15:55.600] So the headset is me mainly listening to Daniel
[15:55.600 -> 15:56.880] and his race engineer,
[15:56.880 -> 15:59.220] because I'd like to hear their language, how they speak,
[15:59.220 -> 16:00.060] how they deal with certain things.
[16:00.060 -> 16:02.400] Can you cut in, Michael's been a fucking dick today.
[16:02.400 -> 16:04.920] I can't stand him today.
[16:04.920 -> 16:05.320] Yeah, yeah.
[16:06.240 -> 16:08.360] I would love to talk to him during a race,
[16:08.360 -> 16:09.200] but unfortunately not.
[16:09.200 -> 16:10.440] You're not allowed?
[16:10.440 -> 16:13.880] No, so sometimes I'll talk to Tom, he's a race engineer.
[16:13.880 -> 16:15.520] You know, he's just making sure that I'm on time
[16:15.520 -> 16:17.840] for the national anthem because they can get fined
[16:17.840 -> 16:18.680] if they're late to the national anthem.
[16:18.680 -> 16:19.960] Yeah, I've heard about that.
[16:19.960 -> 16:21.480] So usually Tom will just come on the radio
[16:21.480 -> 16:23.160] and be like, Michael, just checking that you're on your way
[16:23.160 -> 16:24.560] to the national anthem.
[16:24.560 -> 16:28.020] And I'll obviously check in and say, yep, we're on the way.
[16:28.020 -> 16:28.860] And then sometimes, you know,
[16:28.860 -> 16:31.600] there has been an instance once where
[16:31.600 -> 16:33.160] I was actually walking off
[16:34.380 -> 16:37.820] and his balaclava wasn't working, his mic wasn't working.
[16:37.820 -> 16:40.560] So I had to run back in with a spare balaclava,
[16:40.560 -> 16:42.760] quickly like change it up, like with two minutes to go.
[16:42.760 -> 16:46.040] And so luckily, you know, I need to keep my headset in.
[16:46.040 -> 16:48.800] Cause if Tom, if I didn't have a headset in,
[16:48.800 -> 16:50.740] Daniel would have run a race with a,
[16:50.740 -> 16:52.720] with no communication to his race engineer.
[16:52.720 -> 16:53.560] That's not great.
[16:53.560 -> 16:54.560] Yeah, which would not be great.
[16:54.560 -> 16:55.400] So.
[16:55.400 -> 16:57.160] I swear that happened recently to someone.
[16:57.160 -> 16:58.200] I've heard stories about people
[16:58.200 -> 16:59.680] when their water bottle hasn't worked.
[16:59.680 -> 17:00.500] Yeah, Kimi.
[17:00.500 -> 17:02.560] That's gotta be, has Daniel ever had that?
[17:02.560 -> 17:04.160] It happened to us in 19, yeah.
[17:04.160 -> 17:07.640] Wow. Yeah, they have, they forgot to connect the tube.
[17:07.640 -> 17:11.080] So he went to sip and he just sipped air.
[17:11.080 -> 17:13.000] So yeah, he had no drink for a whole race.
[17:13.000 -> 17:15.160] For like an hour and a half of that.
[17:15.160 -> 17:16.920] It was a hot race too, from memory.
[17:16.920 -> 17:18.000] Oh.
[17:18.000 -> 17:19.040] I mean, I won't be surprised,
[17:19.040 -> 17:22.420] because they lose a lot of water when they're three sweat.
[17:22.420 -> 17:24.540] Yeah, no, I vividly remember like,
[17:26.800 -> 17:29.320] he's lead engineer just sitting in the garage and he came in the radio
[17:29.320 -> 17:31.080] and he goes, my drinks not working.
[17:31.080 -> 17:33.160] And he just looked across to me and he was like,
[17:33.160 -> 17:34.560] I'm so sorry.
[17:34.560 -> 17:35.760] He realized what he did.
[17:35.760 -> 17:38.160] He's like, oh, I forgot to connect it.
[17:38.160 -> 17:39.000] And I was like, that's okay,
[17:39.000 -> 17:40.000] I'll beat you up later.
[17:40.000 -> 17:40.840] I'll be coming.
[17:40.840 -> 17:44.640] What do you do in the garage when he's racing?
[17:44.640 -> 17:46.400] Because you said you take notes.
[17:46.400 -> 17:48.100] So what kind of notes would you take?
[17:48.100 -> 17:51.080] What would you write down or be looking at or doing?
[17:51.080 -> 17:53.160] I look at the way he defends.
[17:53.160 -> 17:54.760] I'll look at the way he attacks.
[17:54.760 -> 17:56.800] So sometimes I'll say, is he being patient?
[17:56.800 -> 17:58.400] Is he attacking the right way?
[17:58.400 -> 18:03.400] If he attacks in a particular corner and they defend well,
[18:04.200 -> 18:05.160] what's he doing from there?
[18:05.160 -> 18:06.860] How is he anticipating the next move?
[18:06.860 -> 18:09.200] Is he being reactive or is he anticipating, right?
[18:09.200 -> 18:10.800] Is he being intelligent, right?
[18:10.800 -> 18:13.180] So are you actually thinking, okay, hang on a second,
[18:13.180 -> 18:16.180] I've tried this move twice in turn one, doesn't work.
[18:16.180 -> 18:17.840] Okay, what's plan B?
[18:17.840 -> 18:20.200] So just making sure that he's,
[18:20.200 -> 18:21.560] I'm just keeping him accountable to,
[18:21.560 -> 18:23.760] but hang on a second, like, why did you do this?
[18:23.760 -> 18:24.600] Why'd you do that?
[18:24.600 -> 18:27.520] And there's been instances where I'll come to him
[18:27.520 -> 18:29.200] and be like, I think you left too much space there
[18:29.200 -> 18:32.760] which is why X, you know, X dove in and got you.
[18:32.760 -> 18:34.520] Like, I feel like you could have defended harder there.
[18:34.520 -> 18:36.040] And then he'll go back and watch the footage
[18:36.040 -> 18:37.720] and be like, yeah, you know what, maybe you're right.
[18:37.720 -> 18:40.080] And then sometimes I'll watch the starts
[18:40.080 -> 18:41.360] and I'll be like, you know, I think, you know
[18:41.360 -> 18:43.480] maybe talk a little bit about positioning.
[18:44.640 -> 18:48.480] So that's where I, you know, I know a lot of the feedback will come from.
[18:48.480 -> 18:49.540] He's a race engineer, right?
[18:49.580 -> 18:50.740] Like that's not my job.
[18:51.140 -> 18:54.160] That is just something that I like to do as a coach.
[18:54.160 -> 18:56.420] Like no, no one's told me to do that.
[18:56.460 -> 19:02.360] It's just, I like to break the race down and see how I can help Daniel in any way,
[19:02.360 -> 19:02.960] shape or form.
[19:02.960 -> 19:05.400] Cause the way I see it is it's just an extra pair of eyes.
[19:05.400 -> 19:06.240] It can't hurt.
[19:06.240 -> 19:07.060] I really appreciate that as well
[19:07.060 -> 19:07.900] because you can then chat about it.
[19:07.900 -> 19:09.000] Like if you were given your opinion,
[19:09.000 -> 19:09.960] he'll then be able to bounce back
[19:09.960 -> 19:11.040] and tell you what he was thinking
[19:11.040 -> 19:12.320] in that moment in the race.
[19:12.320 -> 19:13.960] So you're going to open up a conversation
[19:13.960 -> 19:15.680] that a lot of people might not have got out of them.
[19:15.680 -> 19:16.500] Yeah, correct.
[19:16.500 -> 19:18.900] And you know, I'll analyze his restarts for instance,
[19:18.900 -> 19:21.040] and you know, maybe I'll go to his race engineer
[19:21.040 -> 19:22.440] and be like, hey, look, you know,
[19:22.440 -> 19:24.560] what's he like warming up his tires?
[19:24.560 -> 19:27.000] Like, is there something he can do better? So that, you know, there's a lot of information that I can get to his race engineer and be like, hey, look, what's he like warming up his tires? Like, is there something he can do better?
[19:27.000 -> 19:28.280] So that there's a lot of information
[19:28.280 -> 19:29.440] that I can get from his race engineers
[19:29.440 -> 19:30.420] where they'll be like, Michael, yes,
[19:30.420 -> 19:31.440] he's very strong in this area,
[19:31.440 -> 19:32.480] but he's very weak in this area.
[19:32.480 -> 19:34.080] And I was like, okay, maybe there is something
[19:34.080 -> 19:36.000] from a performance aspect on how I train him
[19:36.000 -> 19:39.560] or how I prepare him that can change that, right?
[19:39.560 -> 19:41.560] So, and I'll give you an example,
[19:41.560 -> 19:43.120] like his starts were an example.
[19:43.120 -> 19:45.620] So in 18 and 19, he starts were quite average.
[19:45.620 -> 19:49.800] So we actually changed our garage preparation
[19:50.920 -> 19:53.640] from like half halfway through 2019
[19:53.640 -> 19:54.800] to try and change a few things up
[19:54.800 -> 19:57.880] to get him more sharp and reactive off the start line.
[19:57.880 -> 20:02.880] And then come end of 2020, I think he was second in starts.
[20:03.560 -> 20:04.400] I think Lewis was first.
[20:04.400 -> 20:05.720] What did you change?
[20:05.720 -> 20:06.560] What did you do?
[20:06.560 -> 20:07.380] Can you say?
[20:07.380 -> 20:08.220] Or is it a secret?
[20:08.220 -> 20:09.060] It's a secret.
[20:09.060 -> 20:12.120] Just gave him breakfast.
[20:12.120 -> 20:13.080] We tried, we tried.
[20:13.080 -> 20:14.320] Coming soon, episode two.
[20:16.640 -> 20:19.160] No, so yeah, like, so there's information
[20:19.160 -> 20:24.080] that I can definitely take on board from the team
[20:24.080 -> 20:26.880] to try and make a difference from a performance aspect.
[20:26.880 -> 20:29.400] And I think that's important as a coach, right?
[20:29.400 -> 20:31.800] Like you gotta step your ego aside
[20:31.800 -> 20:33.320] and realize that, hang on a second,
[20:33.320 -> 20:35.340] like there are definitely things
[20:35.340 -> 20:37.980] that what we're doing right now that isn't perfect
[20:37.980 -> 20:40.160] and you can, there's always ways to improve.
[20:40.160 -> 20:42.640] Like sport science is forever evolving.
[20:42.640 -> 20:44.840] And that's one thing I love about Formula One
[20:44.840 -> 20:48.200] is that Formula One itself is so innovating, right?
[20:48.200 -> 20:49.800] It's such an innovative sport
[20:49.800 -> 20:51.540] and so is sport science, right?
[20:51.540 -> 20:52.620] And I just feel like the two and two
[20:52.620 -> 20:54.300] just go so well hand in hand together
[20:54.300 -> 20:57.500] and actually understanding how to actually train
[20:57.500 -> 21:00.900] a Formula One driver is very scarce
[21:00.900 -> 21:01.740] in the literature right now.
[21:01.740 -> 21:03.380] You can't, you just don't know.
[21:03.380 -> 21:04.580] No, you guys are like a different breed.
[21:04.580 -> 21:06.720] You're kind of, you're writing the book now. Yeah, correct. You're literally writing literature right now. You can't, you just don't know. No, you guys are like a different breed. You're kind of, you're writing the book now.
[21:06.720 -> 21:07.560] Yeah, correct.
[21:07.560 -> 21:08.720] You're literally writing the book now.
[21:08.720 -> 21:11.520] So I'm going down some really cool avenues
[21:11.520 -> 21:14.160] within neuroscience from like a cognitive perspective
[21:14.160 -> 21:17.000] and actually how to like really like train the brain,
[21:17.000 -> 21:18.080] you know, train your peripherals,
[21:18.080 -> 21:19.640] sharp sharpen your perception.
[21:19.640 -> 21:21.800] Like I'm really going quite deep with some neuroscientists
[21:21.800 -> 21:23.760] and just trying to really just hone in
[21:23.760 -> 21:25.180] and find that 1% right?
[21:25.180 -> 21:27.900] Because 1% and F1 can mean the difference between.
[21:27.900 -> 21:28.740] A tenth of a second.
[21:28.740 -> 21:30.780] Man, you look at a tenth of a second
[21:30.780 -> 21:31.640] in qualifying these days,
[21:31.640 -> 21:35.580] it's the difference between P13 and P7 or P5.
[21:35.580 -> 21:37.200] The midfield is so tight.
[21:40.260 -> 21:42.420] I will forever as a coach push the boundaries
[21:42.420 -> 21:44.380] and always find different ways
[21:44.380 -> 21:47.120] that I can enhance Daniel's performance. I'm not just gonna be setting my ways as a coach, like push the boundaries and always find different ways that I can enhance Daniel's performance.
[21:47.120 -> 21:49.000] I'm not just going to be setting my ways as a coach.
[21:49.000 -> 21:50.600] I'm always trying to improve.
[21:50.600 -> 21:53.640] Yeah, so I didn't, before we'd spoke to Brad and even you,
[21:53.640 -> 21:55.200] cause we didn't know any of this stuff.
[21:55.200 -> 21:57.880] Like we didn't assume that a performance coach
[21:57.880 -> 21:59.240] would have this much of a role.
[21:59.240 -> 22:02.040] So to hear on how much you do behind the scenes,
[22:02.040 -> 22:03.320] people might not know that you do,
[22:03.320 -> 22:07.940] it's so impressive because ultimately there is so much you have to know,
[22:07.940 -> 22:10.180] learn about, be involved with,
[22:10.180 -> 22:11.920] but you have to be their friend, like you said,
[22:11.920 -> 22:13.700] you have to be able to make sure they do something,
[22:13.700 -> 22:14.820] make sure this goes right,
[22:14.820 -> 22:17.100] on one of the biggest stages in the world.
[22:17.100 -> 22:19.300] It's, how do you compare this to working
[22:19.300 -> 22:21.620] with some of the other sports people you've worked with?
[22:21.620 -> 22:22.660] Because when I went on your website,
[22:22.660 -> 22:24.900] I saw like, I think I saw someone from other people
[22:24.900 -> 22:26.640] from motor sports and people like that.
[22:26.640 -> 22:29.440] Do you think it's Formula One just completely different?
[22:29.440 -> 22:30.840] It is, it is different.
[22:30.840 -> 22:34.860] Like the biggest thing I think where Formula One
[22:34.860 -> 22:38.340] is so different is like the engagement that fans can get.
[22:38.340 -> 22:42.480] Like you could literally be walking to the race
[22:42.480 -> 22:46.600] like from the garage to the pit and like through like the main
[22:46.600 -> 22:47.600] straight.
[22:47.600 -> 22:48.600] Yeah, yeah.
[22:48.600 -> 22:49.600] People can just engage with you, right?
[22:49.600 -> 22:53.600] Like there's fans like everywhere that can just stop, take a photo, say hello and it's
[22:53.600 -> 22:54.600] like-
[22:54.600 -> 22:56.600] In the paddock now as well, there's loads of people, everyone's going to be asking for
[22:56.600 -> 22:57.600] those.
[22:57.600 -> 22:59.320] It's crazy, like imagine a footballing team like walking out on the pitch-
[22:59.320 -> 23:00.320] Would never happen, would it?
[23:00.320 -> 23:03.160] And there's fans on the pitch just saying good day before you, you know, before you
[23:03.160 -> 23:05.480] got to play.
[23:07.360 -> 23:09.520] And same as race day, like race day, I see Daniel, like for instance,
[23:09.520 -> 23:12.680] we'll probably get to a race on like 9.30 in the morning,
[23:12.680 -> 23:14.360] you know, it's a 3 p.m. race.
[23:14.360 -> 23:15.760] I don't see him till 1.30
[23:15.760 -> 23:17.840] because he's got like paddock club meet and greets,
[23:17.840 -> 23:20.160] sponsor greet, like sponsor meet and greets.
[23:20.160 -> 23:21.660] He's got engineering meetings.
[23:21.660 -> 23:24.440] So like he's got like five hours of commitment
[23:24.440 -> 23:26.000] before I even get to see him.
[23:26.000 -> 23:27.120] You know what I mean?
[23:27.120 -> 23:28.920] So like, I'm also like, geez,
[23:28.920 -> 23:31.680] like you look at other sports, like you look at football,
[23:31.680 -> 23:34.280] you know, the lads rock off out of a bus three hours before
[23:34.280 -> 23:35.640] they're chill, they listen to music,
[23:35.640 -> 23:36.840] they don't have to do nothing, right?
[23:36.840 -> 23:38.960] Which is how it should be.
[23:38.960 -> 23:40.240] They should be in their Zen state.
[23:40.240 -> 23:41.440] They shouldn't have to do anything
[23:41.440 -> 23:44.360] that's gonna be mentally taxing or lethargic.
[23:44.360 -> 23:50.500] Something could definitely happen that could like put them off in that three-hour period in an interview or meet in anyone
[23:50.500 -> 23:54.920] Like if you turn up to a race focused, you've just woken up that morning had your breakfast
[23:54.920 -> 23:59.100] You're ready to go race and you got to do three hours of media in that surely
[23:59.640 -> 24:03.160] Yeah, I think anything could well like doing a podcast for example, right?
[24:03.160 -> 24:05.320] It's like having it's like being in a meeting. Yeah, you try and do anything good. Like doing a podcast for example, right? It's like being in a meeting.
[24:05.320 -> 24:06.700] You try and do three meetings,
[24:06.700 -> 24:08.200] you'll be exhausted mentally, right?
[24:08.200 -> 24:09.440] Like it's mentally taxing,
[24:09.440 -> 24:12.280] like talking to people, absorbing information,
[24:12.280 -> 24:15.860] and then giving information back, it's mentally taxing.
[24:15.860 -> 24:17.760] So, from a coaching perspective,
[24:17.760 -> 24:19.080] there are difficulties for sure,
[24:19.080 -> 24:20.500] because it's like, how do you combat that?
[24:20.500 -> 24:21.600] You can't.
[24:21.600 -> 24:23.120] So it's like, in a perfect world,
[24:23.120 -> 24:29.260] I'd love for him to rock up to the race at like 1 p.m. you know, nice and chilled morning and then
[24:29.260 -> 24:31.920] just go straight in the car and he's just completely switched on and sharp
[24:31.920 -> 24:35.960] ready to go. But these drivers, they have to do a lot on a Sunday. They
[24:35.960 -> 24:39.220] really do and I think that's what people have to understand. These guys are
[24:39.220 -> 24:44.240] crazy. Like not only are we asking them to drive a perfect race for two hours.
[24:44.240 -> 24:46.520] It's something that is one of the most dangerous
[24:46.520 -> 24:47.720] quick vehicles in the world.
[24:47.720 -> 24:50.320] They're also doing three days of media.
[24:50.320 -> 24:52.960] Like Thursday is a full eight hour day of media.
[24:52.960 -> 24:53.840] Absolutely insane.
[24:53.840 -> 24:56.160] And then they're doing like two to three
[24:56.160 -> 24:58.080] media commitments Friday, two to three on Saturday
[24:58.080 -> 24:59.840] and then two to three on Sunday.
[24:59.840 -> 25:03.240] So like, it's crazy how much they ask of the driver
[25:03.240 -> 25:05.880] and still ask them to perform at their absolute best.
[25:05.880 -> 25:06.900] Like it's impressive.
[25:06.900 -> 25:07.820] Yeah, yeah.
[25:07.820 -> 25:11.460] In light of that, I really wanted to get your opinion
[25:11.460 -> 25:13.740] and like there may be stuff where you don't want to answer
[25:13.740 -> 25:17.020] or you can't answer, but do you think there is a sole reason
[25:17.020 -> 25:19.280] or maybe multiple reasons why you think
[25:19.280 -> 25:21.580] Daniel may not be performing how he wants
[25:21.580 -> 25:23.160] to perform this year?
[25:24.340 -> 25:26.600] Yeah, I think the number one thing is
[25:27.440 -> 25:29.840] what we spoke about earlier is familiarity, right?
[25:29.840 -> 25:32.780] So Daniel is not familiar with the car,
[25:32.780 -> 25:34.640] the way the car feels, right?
[25:34.640 -> 25:38.160] He's used to a different driving style.
[25:38.160 -> 25:39.680] What people have to realize is a lot of these drivers
[25:39.680 -> 25:42.400] actually have very, very different driving styles.
[25:42.400 -> 25:44.760] If you actually watch the onboards,
[25:44.760 -> 25:47.000] it's particularly like if you watch like an Alonzo, he's got a very different driving styles. If you actually watch the onboards, particularly if you watch an Alonzo,
[25:47.000 -> 25:49.000] he's got a very different driving style.
[25:49.000 -> 25:51.000] The way he drives the Alpine now is very different
[25:51.000 -> 25:53.000] than the way Daniel used to drive it.
[25:53.000 -> 25:54.000] It's very interesting.
[25:54.000 -> 25:57.000] Some cars can handle different driving styles,
[25:57.000 -> 25:59.000] some cars can't.
[25:59.000 -> 26:04.000] Unfortunately, McLaren has a very specific driving style,
[26:04.000 -> 26:05.880] the car itself,
[26:05.880 -> 26:08.120] the characteristics and the features of the car.
[26:08.120 -> 26:10.240] And that is something that Daniel hasn't been able
[26:10.240 -> 26:12.560] to really grasp personally.
[26:12.560 -> 26:16.320] And it is, yeah, look, of course it's frustrating.
[26:16.320 -> 26:17.560] Like, of course we wanna,
[26:18.880 -> 26:20.760] we wanna be doing better for sure.
[26:21.680 -> 26:22.880] But you also have to understand
[26:22.880 -> 26:25.860] that you don't wanna throw sympathy on yourself and you also don't wanna be the victim, right? It have to understand like you don't want to throw sympathy on yourself
[26:25.860 -> 26:28.420] and you also don't want to be the victim, right?
[26:28.420 -> 26:29.900] It's the worst thing you could do
[26:29.900 -> 26:32.180] is accept that you're the victim because you're not, right?
[26:32.180 -> 26:33.180] So you have to accept it.
[26:33.180 -> 26:34.360] Like I said, you have to acknowledge it
[26:34.360 -> 26:36.280] and you have to just keep focusing on the process.
[26:36.280 -> 26:38.500] And that is something that I've been very impressed
[26:38.500 -> 26:41.140] with Daniel is that, you know
[26:41.140 -> 26:42.900] he could have easily gone into his shell.
[26:42.900 -> 26:43.860] He could have easily, you know
[26:43.860 -> 26:45.100] gone a little bit negative in the media
[26:46.000 -> 26:51.320] But he hasn't he's kept it together. He's head down. He's actually working harder than I've ever seen him work, right?
[26:51.880 -> 26:57.300] not not worrying about the outcome of the results because he can't control that right and just focusing on the process and
[26:57.880 -> 27:00.860] Just not worrying about the outside noise, right?
[27:00.860 -> 27:02.720] Not worrying what what he can't control which is you know
[27:02.720 -> 27:05.520] The media and and what comes with the territory
[27:05.520 -> 27:07.400] of being a professional athlete in Formula One.
[27:07.400 -> 27:10.360] So yeah, look, I always say your biggest growth
[27:10.360 -> 27:12.560] comes from your darkest times, right?
[27:12.560 -> 27:15.800] So whether or not this is one of his darkest times
[27:15.800 -> 27:17.620] in his Formula One career or not,
[27:17.620 -> 27:19.680] I definitely think there's gonna be a big growth
[27:19.680 -> 27:21.600] coming from this year for sure.
[27:21.600 -> 27:23.160] You know, and I always say,
[27:23.160 -> 27:25.400] no one buys tickets to a flat roller coaster, right?
[27:27.600 -> 27:28.120] Like if you saw a flat flat roller coaster right now
[27:30.600 -> 27:33.160] At theme park, would you buy tickets? No, absolutely not And it's the same as the same as life in the same as I true
[27:33.160 -> 27:39.040] I'm a sportsman right any sportsman in the world whether it's the best player in NBA with its LeBron James Roger Federer
[27:39.040 -> 27:44.180] I guarantee you could sit down with them and they will say yes there you are gonna have highs and you are gonna have lows
[27:44.280 -> 27:45.960] It's like a roller coaster.
[27:45.960 -> 27:48.000] You just gotta hang on, sit tight, look forward
[27:48.000 -> 27:49.520] and make sure that you trust in your ability
[27:49.520 -> 27:52.500] and making sure that you are focusing on your process
[27:52.500 -> 27:55.160] and not being distracted by anything else.
[27:55.160 -> 27:57.880] And at this period of time, do you think about next year?
[27:57.880 -> 27:59.200] Do you think about the potential
[27:59.200 -> 28:02.880] of what situation you guys might be in next year?
[28:02.880 -> 28:05.200] Or are you just thinking on now, this season,
[28:05.200 -> 28:06.360] get it over and done with,
[28:06.360 -> 28:08.560] and then think about it during the break?
[28:08.560 -> 28:10.480] Yeah, I think there's, I mean, look, there's,
[28:10.480 -> 28:11.320] what is it, eight races?
[28:11.320 -> 28:12.520] Correct me if I'm wrong, is it eight races?
[28:12.520 -> 28:13.360] I don't know, something like that.
[28:13.360 -> 28:15.440] There's a few left, yeah.
[28:15.440 -> 28:17.040] I should know.
[28:17.040 -> 28:18.440] There's still plenty of races.
[28:18.440 -> 28:22.500] So for me, there's still a lot to achieve this year, right?
[28:22.500 -> 28:24.800] So perfect example was last year.
[28:24.800 -> 28:28.040] You know, we had a very slow start to the year
[28:28.040 -> 28:30.240] and then we came out on one monza, right?
[28:30.240 -> 28:32.920] And so one win can change a lot.
[28:32.920 -> 28:35.480] So, you know, I'm not just gonna
[28:35.480 -> 28:36.680] write off the second half of the year
[28:36.680 -> 28:38.280] because the first half of the year didn't go well.
[28:38.280 -> 28:41.360] Like I still think there's massive amounts of growth
[28:41.360 -> 28:42.780] and improvement to happen for sure
[28:42.780 -> 28:48.260] because I believe in Daniel so much. Like I honestly believe that he's one of the fastest in the world and I
[28:49.000 -> 28:51.000] Believe that you know, he can definitely
[28:51.660 -> 28:57.160] Be a lot be a lot be a lot quicker in this car and he can crack crack the code essentially
[28:57.160 -> 29:03.120] I'm trying to find yeah, right. So no, I'm not thinking about next year. I don't want to get too too far ahead
[29:03.840 -> 29:05.520] I Embrace, you know the unknown and the uncertainty. I think that's quite exciting. Yeah about next year, I don't want to get too far ahead.
[29:08.240 -> 29:09.640] I embrace, you know, the unknown and the uncertainty. I think that's quite exciting.
[29:09.640 -> 29:12.240] I think that's life, right?
[29:12.240 -> 29:13.440] I don't, when people say,
[29:13.440 -> 29:14.920] where do you want to be in five, 10 years time?
[29:14.920 -> 29:16.600] I don't like to plan life, man.
[29:16.600 -> 29:19.840] I like to, yeah, I think you need to embrace
[29:19.840 -> 29:20.680] the uncertainty of life,
[29:20.680 -> 29:22.640] because if you don't, then it's going to stress you out.
[29:22.640 -> 29:23.800] I just accept it.
[29:23.800 -> 29:25.480] Just accept that sometimes life's going to go in a different direction than you planned it to go, right? you don't, then it's gonna stress you out. Yeah, I just accept it. Just accept that sometimes life's gonna go
[29:25.480 -> 29:27.360] in a different direction than you planned it to go.
[29:27.360 -> 29:29.200] Right, and that's part of it.
[29:29.200 -> 29:30.840] So no, to answer your question,
[29:30.840 -> 29:33.440] no, I haven't really thought about next year.
[29:33.440 -> 29:34.260] Cool.
[29:34.260 -> 29:35.480] Do you think Daniel thinks about it?
[29:35.480 -> 29:36.440] I think he has to.
[29:36.440 -> 29:37.280] Yeah.
[29:37.280 -> 29:38.480] Yeah, I think he has to.
[29:38.480 -> 29:40.200] Yeah, for sure.
[29:40.200 -> 29:41.520] But you know, I'll leave that to him.
[29:41.520 -> 29:43.640] It's something that we'll eventually talk about.
[29:43.640 -> 29:45.600] But I think August break is for me,
[29:45.600 -> 29:46.440] I don't think that was,
[29:46.440 -> 29:47.960] it's the right time to talk about that right now.
[29:47.960 -> 29:50.280] I think he needs to do what he did last year.
[29:50.280 -> 29:53.040] And what he does every year is just switch off
[29:53.040 -> 29:56.040] from Formula One, reset and come back fresh,
[29:56.040 -> 29:59.560] ready to hit a very, very busy second half of the year.
[29:59.560 -> 30:01.440] It's great, we just watched the Elvis movie.
[30:01.440 -> 30:02.280] I don't know if you've seen it.
[30:02.280 -> 30:03.120] Oh, I was gonna watch it last night.
[30:03.120 -> 30:04.200] Oh, it's amazing.
[30:04.200 -> 30:05.960] It's really good.
[30:05.960 -> 30:10.280] Austin Butler played Elvis and what happened, you know
[30:10.280 -> 30:12.360] they spend so long getting into the character.
[30:12.360 -> 30:14.100] They put so much work into it
[30:14.100 -> 30:15.280] but then they had the COVID break
[30:15.280 -> 30:18.440] and he was still putting in work during those two years off
[30:18.440 -> 30:21.380] to really kind of embody this character and be that guy.
[30:21.380 -> 30:24.240] But the main thing, cause Tom Hanks is in it as well.
[30:24.240 -> 30:25.840] And the main thing that Tom Hanks said to him
[30:25.840 -> 30:29.760] was just make sure that you find one thing every day
[30:29.760 -> 30:31.240] to pull you out of it,
[30:31.240 -> 30:32.440] just to focus on something else
[30:32.440 -> 30:33.600] because otherwise you'll go insane.
[30:33.600 -> 30:36.020] So like, is there other things that you or Daniel do?
[30:36.020 -> 30:37.440] Like you guys are in this,
[30:37.440 -> 30:39.540] your head must be in the sport all the fucking time.
[30:39.540 -> 30:41.520] So to be able to just pull yourself out of it,
[30:41.520 -> 30:43.520] what other interests do you or Daniel have,
[30:43.520 -> 30:46.720] which you can enjoy doing when you're not doing Formula One?
[30:46.720 -> 30:47.840] Yeah, it's a good question.
[30:47.840 -> 30:50.680] And it's something where I definitely think as an athlete,
[30:50.680 -> 30:52.320] you need to have a healthy balance
[30:52.320 -> 30:55.160] of what you're trying to achieve in sport
[30:55.160 -> 30:57.220] and what you're trying to achieve as a human,
[30:57.220 -> 30:58.240] like in life, right?
[30:58.240 -> 31:01.320] Because at the end of the day, sport isn't life, right?
[31:01.320 -> 31:02.560] So you have to understand
[31:02.560 -> 31:03.960] there has to be a healthy balance there.
[31:03.960 -> 31:05.440] And if you get that balance wrong,
[31:05.440 -> 31:08.660] you can feel like you're in quicksand sometimes.
[31:08.660 -> 31:11.220] So with Daniel, he loves to be in nature.
[31:11.220 -> 31:12.400] He loves to get out
[31:12.400 -> 31:14.680] and whether it's hiking, mountain bike riding.
[31:14.680 -> 31:16.680] We saw you guys mountain biking.
[31:16.680 -> 31:17.520] Yeah, he loves it.
[31:17.520 -> 31:19.640] He's way too quick for me.
[31:19.640 -> 31:21.900] I tried going mountain bike riding with him and keeping up.
[31:21.900 -> 31:24.440] And I think I went over the handlebars like three times.
[31:24.440 -> 31:26.240] How I didn't break my collarbone, I do not know.
[31:26.240 -> 31:28.280] I'd love to go mountain biking with you guys.
[31:28.280 -> 31:29.840] Yeah, I think after three hours,
[31:29.840 -> 31:31.000] he just started laughing at me
[31:31.000 -> 31:33.600] cause I was just bruised head to toe.
[31:33.600 -> 31:34.440] So I haven't gone back to-
[31:34.440 -> 31:35.280] So he's allowed us to do that to you,
[31:35.280 -> 31:36.560] but if you bruised him,
[31:36.560 -> 31:38.400] I'm sure there'd be people gunning for you, isn't there?
[31:38.400 -> 31:39.800] Well, I kind of blame myself.
[31:39.800 -> 31:41.200] That was my ego trying to keep up with him.
[31:41.200 -> 31:42.440] I should have slowed down
[31:42.440 -> 31:44.480] and just try to keep myself on track.
[31:45.680 -> 31:48.200] And yeah, like a couple of months ago or yeah,
[31:48.200 -> 31:50.160] about five weeks ago we went to Montana
[31:50.160 -> 31:52.720] and sat on a friend's ranch and that was beautiful.
[31:52.720 -> 31:54.320] Get to ride some horses.
[31:54.320 -> 31:56.040] Just be a kid again, you know,
[31:56.040 -> 31:57.600] like be in space, be in nature.
[31:57.600 -> 31:59.320] And, you know, we went hiking,
[31:59.320 -> 32:01.440] we went to like, you know, National Glacier Park,
[32:01.440 -> 32:02.440] went riding up the hills there.
[32:02.440 -> 32:05.880] So like, and the fortunate thing is I love that too.
[32:05.880 -> 32:09.240] So I think part of that really helps him switch off
[32:09.240 -> 32:11.600] and really just, he just, he loves embracing nature,
[32:11.600 -> 32:12.780] which I think is fantastic.
[32:12.780 -> 32:13.620] Yeah. Right.
[32:13.620 -> 32:14.440] I think it's fantastic.
[32:14.440 -> 32:16.880] I think we all need to be in nurtured in nature
[32:16.880 -> 32:18.560] more than not.
[32:18.560 -> 32:21.460] I think we can very easily just get stuck into our apartment
[32:21.460 -> 32:22.720] and our routine of just waking up
[32:22.720 -> 32:24.920] and sitting in front of a screen for eight hours,
[32:24.920 -> 32:25.720] nine hours a day.
[32:25.720 -> 32:26.920] We've started doing it, haven't we?
[32:26.920 -> 32:29.360] We've started doing like a one hour of no phones.
[32:29.360 -> 32:31.520] No, we play guitar.
[32:31.520 -> 32:32.360] Yeah, play guitar.
[32:32.360 -> 32:33.180] We had these little cards.
[32:33.180 -> 32:34.160] We ordered a McDonald's the other day.
[32:34.160 -> 32:35.720] You'll be pissed off to know about that.
[32:35.720 -> 32:39.480] We had a McDonald's, but it came with these little like-
[32:39.480 -> 32:40.560] You bought a salad though, right?
[32:40.560 -> 32:41.400] Of course.
[32:41.400 -> 32:42.240] Yeah, yeah, salad.
[32:42.240 -> 32:43.480] Yeah, yeah, with extra chicken.
[32:43.480 -> 32:46.900] But they come with these like little, uh,
[32:46.900 -> 32:49.900] cards where I had like a Pokemon on it, but it was like duplicates
[32:49.900 -> 32:52.300] and you have to like turn them over and you got to find the
[32:52.600 -> 32:56.000] the match. The match. Yeah. We were playing it for ages. I was
[32:56.000 -> 32:58.700] like, it's so intelligent after I can be like, cause it just
[32:58.700 -> 33:01.100] gets your mind right. Rather than staring at your phone all
[33:01.100 -> 33:04.700] day. Yeah. So, so I, I started doing the same with my girlfriend
[33:04.700 -> 33:05.680] over lockdown, right?
[33:05.680 -> 33:06.840] Cause you're in your apartment
[33:06.840 -> 33:09.440] and everyone can definitely relate how easy it is
[33:09.440 -> 33:10.520] to sit in during lockdown,
[33:10.520 -> 33:11.960] just be on your phone the whole time, right?
[33:11.960 -> 33:14.840] Sit on TikTok for 30 minutes or whatever floats your boat.
[33:14.840 -> 33:19.360] But yeah, we started buying cards, Jenga, Uno,
[33:19.360 -> 33:21.280] and just started playing like board games again.
[33:21.280 -> 33:22.200] And I was like, oh my gosh,
[33:22.200 -> 33:23.600] this is actually quite therapeutic.
[33:23.600 -> 33:25.040] It's like, what is this? Like bits of my brain I haven't used in ages. Yeah, that's this is actually quite therapeutic. What is this?
[33:25.040 -> 33:27.280] What are bits of my brain I haven't used in ages?
[33:27.280 -> 33:28.680] That whole thing we did yesterday.
[33:28.680 -> 33:30.520] That's one thing about London,
[33:30.520 -> 33:33.560] we don't really have the outdoors as much here.
[33:33.560 -> 33:35.240] Well, hopefully next year with the Formula One Canada,
[33:35.240 -> 33:36.880] we'll be traveling to a lot more races.
[33:36.880 -> 33:38.480] And then we'll have a lot busier year.
[33:38.480 -> 33:39.440] That'd be nice.
[33:39.440 -> 33:40.480] That's gotta be the plan.
[33:40.480 -> 33:42.720] Formula One if you're watching.
[33:42.720 -> 33:44.200] I will say we actually have been getting
[33:44.200 -> 33:45.880] into cars a lot lately.
[33:45.880 -> 33:47.800] So every flight that we've been on,
[33:47.800 -> 33:49.560] we've been playing the game bullshit.
[33:49.560 -> 33:50.400] Have you heard of bullshit?
[33:50.400 -> 33:51.240] Yeah.
[33:51.240 -> 33:52.060] Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[33:52.060 -> 33:52.900] I love bullshit.
[33:52.900 -> 33:53.740] It gets personal.
[33:53.740 -> 33:54.560] I bet it does.
[33:54.560 -> 33:57.920] We've played it the last four flights.
[33:57.920 -> 33:59.440] The last flight coming back from Budapest,
[33:59.440 -> 34:00.520] we had Lando playing.
[34:00.520 -> 34:01.720] We had like the things like five of us,
[34:01.720 -> 34:03.840] Lando and his trainer, John.
[34:03.840 -> 34:05.200] And yeah, he got personal, man.
[34:05.200 -> 34:06.040] He got personal.
[34:06.040 -> 34:08.600] Oh yeah, it's been really fun actually,
[34:08.600 -> 34:09.640] just getting that, playing that
[34:09.640 -> 34:11.360] and it makes the flight go quick.
[34:11.360 -> 34:12.200] Yeah.
[34:12.200 -> 34:13.240] Is it different teams on the same flight
[34:13.240 -> 34:15.680] or is it just like McLaren has their flight,
[34:15.680 -> 34:16.520] Red Bull has their flight?
[34:16.520 -> 34:17.600] It depends, it depends.
[34:17.600 -> 34:20.120] But yeah, this particular flight,
[34:20.120 -> 34:22.120] it was just the McLaren boys.
[34:22.120 -> 34:23.720] So we've got everyone involved
[34:23.720 -> 34:24.680] and started playing bullshit.
[34:24.680 -> 34:26.960] And you try a playoff, you want to be done
[34:26.960 -> 34:28.640] and you bluff and if the bluff works,
[34:28.640 -> 34:30.440] you feel like you're a superhero.
[34:30.440 -> 34:32.200] That's jokes.
[34:32.200 -> 34:34.240] Does every driver, do you think like,
[34:34.240 -> 34:37.000] from your point of view, have the same relationship
[34:37.000 -> 34:39.720] with their performance coach or is yours more special
[34:39.720 -> 34:42.080] because you have known each other so long, like friends,
[34:42.080 -> 34:44.320] like you haven't just been hired into the row
[34:44.320 -> 34:45.160] and then you've met him and you'd be like,
[34:45.160 -> 34:46.400] I'm going to be your coach now.
[34:46.400 -> 34:48.320] You knew each other before, there's a story there,
[34:48.320 -> 34:49.960] you watched his journey.
[34:49.960 -> 34:52.840] So do you feel like other drivers aren't as close
[34:52.840 -> 34:54.880] with their performance coach on the grid?
[34:55.800 -> 34:57.960] To be honest, I could only really comment
[34:57.960 -> 35:00.280] on my relationship with Daniel.
[35:00.280 -> 35:02.460] Me commenting on what I see outside,
[35:02.460 -> 35:04.960] I think would be quite like vain of me.
[35:04.960 -> 35:05.000] I think what I see outside, I think would be quite like vain of me.
[35:05.000 -> 35:07.640] I think what I see definitely is,
[35:08.520 -> 35:10.120] I do see strong relationships for sure.
[35:10.120 -> 35:12.760] Like we hang out with each other
[35:12.760 -> 35:14.880] maybe like 250 days of the year.
[35:14.880 -> 35:17.300] So for me, it's like, well,
[35:17.300 -> 35:20.280] if the coach isn't getting on with the driver,
[35:20.280 -> 35:21.520] they're not gonna last, right?
[35:21.520 -> 35:24.000] So you would have to assume that
[35:24.000 -> 35:26.960] there has to be a strong bond there for them to one
[35:26.960 -> 35:32.400] just be able to work together and work efficiently and for it to be very cohesive.
[35:32.400 -> 35:36.280] So yeah, I would definitely say that would like I think coaching, coaching drivers, all
[35:36.280 -> 35:37.480] of them would be very close.
[35:37.480 -> 35:38.480] Yeah, for sure.
[35:38.480 -> 35:41.400] Yeah, I just wondered whether all the other coaches go like mountain biking and do all
[35:41.400 -> 35:42.400] that stuff with it.
[35:42.400 -> 35:43.400] I think so.
[35:43.400 -> 35:46.040] I mean, it depends on what their interests are for sure.
[35:46.040 -> 35:47.600] Like I guess we have similar interests
[35:47.600 -> 35:49.800] so we can do those things together.
[35:49.800 -> 35:52.840] I'm sure that I'm sure there would be definitely drivers
[35:52.840 -> 35:55.540] and coaches that go out and do some outdoor activities
[35:55.540 -> 35:58.840] or just hobbies, similar hobbies in general together.
[35:58.840 -> 35:59.880] Yeah.
[35:59.880 -> 36:02.480] It's so interesting, man, having people like you on the pod
[36:02.480 -> 36:04.320] because I mean, I don't know if you know
[36:04.320 -> 36:05.760] but we're new to this sport.
[36:05.760 -> 36:08.360] So we only really got into Formula One last year.
[36:08.360 -> 36:09.200] Oh, wow.
[36:09.200 -> 36:10.020] Yeah.
[36:10.020 -> 36:10.860] And our whole-
[36:10.860 -> 36:11.700] This podcast has been going for five months.
[36:11.700 -> 36:12.520] Five or six months.
[36:12.520 -> 36:13.360] Damn.
[36:13.360 -> 36:14.200] Yeah.
[36:14.200 -> 36:15.640] And our whole thing has been like trying to get at it
[36:15.640 -> 36:16.920] from a new fan perspective.
[36:16.920 -> 36:18.300] I think that's why a lot of people have jumped
[36:18.300 -> 36:20.900] on the bandwagon is because there's a lot of new fans
[36:20.900 -> 36:22.960] from Drivers Survive and everything else.
[36:24.160 -> 36:26.360] And I think the more that we have people like you
[36:26.360 -> 36:28.200] on the podcast, the more it makes me realize
[36:28.200 -> 36:30.980] that how important you are to the sport.
[36:30.980 -> 36:32.120] I mean, you're really like the glue,
[36:32.120 -> 36:34.600] which are like holding these drivers together at times.
[36:34.600 -> 36:36.320] Cause I heard someone say it,
[36:36.320 -> 36:39.160] whether it was you in another podcast or someone else,
[36:39.160 -> 36:42.980] someone said like, a driver needs a best friend
[36:42.980 -> 36:46.180] in the paddock and like you essentially are that.
[36:46.180 -> 36:47.300] Yeah, it's no, thank you.
[36:47.300 -> 36:51.160] And it's, you know, the sport can be a very lonely sport
[36:51.160 -> 36:53.580] at times, that's something that I think people
[36:53.580 -> 36:56.180] will have to recognize is there's a lot of travel.
[36:56.180 -> 37:00.560] There's a lot of sitting in planes and cars,
[37:00.560 -> 37:03.140] going to and from hotels by yourself, you know,
[37:03.140 -> 37:06.120] you're going back to an empty hotel room every night.
[37:06.120 -> 37:09.960] So it does have its times where you are quite lonely
[37:09.960 -> 37:12.200] and it's very easy to get homesick, right?
[37:12.200 -> 37:13.860] Cause you don't have a routine.
[37:13.860 -> 37:15.980] Like your life is living out of a suitcase.
[37:15.980 -> 37:19.560] So if you like routine, this job is hard.
[37:19.560 -> 37:21.920] Like I always say anything that looks great in life,
[37:21.920 -> 37:24.200] there's always a bigger sacrifice, right?
[37:24.200 -> 37:25.480] So, you know, there's always people that, you know,
[37:25.480 -> 37:28.080] chime into what I do and I completely appreciate it.
[37:28.080 -> 37:30.720] And I'm always grateful of what I do.
[37:30.720 -> 37:31.800] And everyone's like, oh, I want your job.
[37:31.800 -> 37:32.620] I want your job.
[37:32.620 -> 37:34.760] It's like, but hang on a second, this is what I sacrifice.
[37:34.760 -> 37:36.240] And it was like, oh, hang on a second.
[37:36.240 -> 37:37.080] Okay.
[37:37.080 -> 37:37.900] So much you miss.
[37:37.900 -> 37:39.320] So much you miss because obviously you're only seeing
[37:39.320 -> 37:41.120] what the event is.
[37:41.120 -> 37:43.200] And it's the same as these drivers that, you know,
[37:43.200 -> 37:50.320] yes, they've got this amazing opportunity. They get paid very, very well. But yeah, it is a lonely life at times. And
[37:50.320 -> 37:54.040] it is very difficult to, you know, whether it's build a family, see your family, see
[37:54.040 -> 37:58.280] your friends, like build close relationships. So yes, at times, sometimes all you do want
[37:58.280 -> 38:03.720] is a friend. And yeah, and that's what I obviously try to achieve when I know when to put my
[38:03.720 -> 38:06.440] friend hat on and when to put my coaching hat on.
[38:06.440 -> 38:07.280] Cool.
[38:07.280 -> 38:08.440] Hopefully we get to see you out of the paddock
[38:08.440 -> 38:09.760] at a race at some point.
[38:09.760 -> 38:11.500] We always somehow manage to sneak in the paddock.
[38:11.500 -> 38:12.340] So if we do see you.
[38:12.340 -> 38:13.160] Oh dear.
[38:13.160 -> 38:14.280] Yeah, we've been to three races
[38:14.280 -> 38:15.640] and snuck in three times so far.
[38:15.640 -> 38:16.680] Zen vault, let's catch up.
[38:16.680 -> 38:18.600] No, I'd absolutely love to.
[38:18.600 -> 38:20.600] I'm going to go over to this camera and say goodbye quick.
[38:20.600 -> 38:21.440] Yeah.
[38:21.440 -> 38:22.640] I'm going to end the podcast so this camera can see me as well.
[38:22.640 -> 38:23.480] Our camera is literally just turned off.
[38:23.480 -> 38:25.000] That one just died and I want it for the YouTube.
[38:25.000 -> 38:26.000] Oh, was that with that?
[38:26.000 -> 38:27.000] Yeah, yeah, it died.
[38:27.000 -> 38:30.000] We've got to come this way to end the podcast.
[38:30.000 -> 38:32.000] Come on, come on, this RGG.
[38:32.000 -> 38:33.000] Come on, guys.
[38:33.000 -> 38:34.000] Okay.
[38:34.000 -> 38:36.000] Michael, thank you very much for joining us.
[38:36.000 -> 38:37.000] You're welcome.
[38:37.000 -> 38:38.000] Oh, this is cute.
[38:38.000 -> 38:42.000] I didn't think we'd be getting this close the first time I met you, to be honest with you.
[38:42.000 -> 38:44.000] I reckon we found something here.
[38:44.000 -> 38:45.000] We need a third host. We do need a third host. I reckon we found something here.
[38:45.000 -> 38:47.320] We need a third host.
[38:47.320 -> 38:48.320] We do need a third host.
[38:48.320 -> 38:50.520] So if Daniel sacks you, then you're in.
[38:50.520 -> 38:51.520] Done.
[38:51.520 -> 38:52.520] All right.
[38:52.520 -> 38:53.520] I'm off the Adam and Joel.
[38:53.520 -> 38:56.160] Thank you very much for joining us.
[38:56.160 -> 38:59.320] Ladies and gentlemen, our next podcast will be live on Monday.
[38:59.320 -> 39:00.320] Yeah, Monday.
[39:00.320 -> 39:01.320] Rate the podcast five stars.
[39:01.320 -> 39:02.320] Follow it if you haven't already.
[39:02.320 -> 39:03.320] Michael, thank you for joining us.
[39:03.320 -> 39:04.320] Good luck.
[39:04.320 -> 39:05.000] It's been an absolute pleasure having you here, bro. you haven't already. Michael, thank you for joining us.
[39:05.000 -> 39:06.000] Good luck.
[39:06.000 -> 39:07.000] It's been an absolute pleasure having you here, bro.
[39:07.000 -> 39:08.000] Thank you so much.
[39:08.000 -> 39:09.000] See you soon.
[39:09.000 -> 39:35.440] Cheers, mate. That was alright. Powered by Spirit Studios.
[39:35.440 -> 39:39.240] Looking for a fun way to win up to 25 times your money this basketball season?
[39:39.240 -> 39:43.360] Test your skills on PrizePicks, the most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports.
[39:43.360 -> 39:47.680] Just select two or more players, pick more or less on their projected stats, and place your entry.
[39:47.680 -> 39:53.080] You can turn $10 into $250. Right now, PrizePicks will match your first deposit
[39:53.080 -> 39:59.360] up to $100. Just visit prizepicks.com slash fan and use code FAN. That's code
[39:59.360 -> 40:04.440] FAN at prizepicks.com slash fan.
[40:00.590 -> 40:03.090] at prizepicks.com slash fan.
[40:03.090 -> 40:04.590] Must be present in certain states.
[40:04.590 -> 40:06.590] Visit prizepicks.com for restrictions and details.