Go beyond the weak F1 example.

What does greatness mean? And how to make sure racing gives you it.

Hi, welcome to the Terence Dove On Racing Drivers newsletter. Every week I'm aiming to give you a mix of driving technique and new perspectives to keep you fired up in the most worthy pursuit in the world; being a racing driver.

This story is doing the rounds right now, about how Felipe Massa could, in theory, be awarded the F1 title 15 years since being beaten by Lewis Hamilton by 1 point.

My question in all this is, how come Massa doesn’t just say:

"Haha, mate do you know how f*#*#**&** busy I am saving humanity and inspiring today's youth! I couldn't care less. Do you think changing the name on a lump of metal could mean a thing to a man of my stature!?!” 

And how come Lewis Hamilton, after Massa came up with bringing lawyers into it, didn't then say this:

“No problem, Felipe is perfectly welcome to the title, I've got them coming out of my ears anyway. Who cares? Certainly not me! Racing is a pursuit I use to push myself to the unexplored limits of human performance… Do you think I do all this for recognition from some shady organisation, or for likes on Instagram!?!? hahaha” 

It's a mystery to me how mature men, who have strived so hard, pushed themselves beyond the limits of ordinary people, and in Massa's case survived horrific injuries, fail to laugh at such inconsequential matters from a decade and a half ago.

Now, to clarify, I don’t just mean these drivers should learn how to handle defeat graciously, which I believe Hamilton managed well last year, as did Massa in his day.

I mean with the years and years of extreme experience these guys have, how come they haven't been propelled so far above petty concerns that they laugh heartily at the mere suggestion that such things could even touch them.

I don’t need titles to show I’m the greatest man alive - hoorah!

The closest we have to racing nobility is Stirling Moss, who when asked about effectively giving up the world title for the sake of sportsmanship, seemed utterly bemused that anyone even need ask, let alone be impressed by such a basic decision. Why wasn’t his example from 65 years ago absorbed by subsequent generations, and then taken to the next level?

How you can be way better than F1 drivers.

Now, I believe motor racing is the ultimate arena for aspiring heroes to train themselves. It has the combination of intense competition and devastating unfairness that can create tremendous individuals. I also believe racing attracts people born with a heroic disposition, because it requires bravery, total commitment and is brutally unforgiving.

Every driver therefore comes with the potential to become a great great person.

But if you only develop yourself for racing without applying it’s methods to all of your life, you can become a one trick pony. And that’s where I think the F1 crowd have completely blown it, they’ve created a class of drivers who can only do one thing: drive, oh and be as banal as possible in front of a camera. The racing driver has been effectively neutered in the professional world, to make them a more controllable commodity.

Use your racing struggles to become a great person AND a great driver - Not just a fast robot.

To me, the whole purpose of racing (aside from the incomparable magic of driving fast) is to help you craft yourself into an unstoppable phenomenon. All the striving, adversity, crushing disappointment and glory should also give you a special kind of nobility and magnanimity when you overcome it all - it’s called character. You can be unstoppable on the track, and exactly the same with anything else you choose to pursue.

But only if you USE racing to build yourself as a superior person first, then inevitably becoming a superb driver follows - it’s natural. For example, when you overcome fears that make you hesitate during absolute mayhem of racing starts, you should realise that you mastered hesitations you have everywhere else, when you talk someone into sponsoring you then you have also learned how to close any business deal (none are harder than that). Soon you’ll learn that racing prepares you to take on anything!

Prioritising things this way means you still become a total badass driver who takes no prisoners and blows people's minds with your incredible driving skills and bravery. But it also means you can think bigger when the time comes to go beyond today's ‘elite’ drivers. And in that sense, you don't need any fancy trophies, titles or any recognition at all to get more from racing than any world champion today!

Thanks for reading.

Terence