Stewart urges F1 to embrace driver coaches

[Conceptual]

Fernando could have used one last year. I would have told him to shut up, stop whining, put your nose to the grind stone,...................

The strange thing is I think Alonso has had such training (but I don't think he used it last year )

When he was at Renault after a particularly spectacular win against Schumacher he was asked in the post race interview if he had considered settling for second place. His response was "I only pictured the win". This is very specific language if you are familiar with mental training and in fact an amateur driver and friend who I coach phone me up to ask if I had seen the interview.

I specifically use the Neo-Tech advantages, and they are very similar to what you have written about so far, except they are more in line with business and personal relationships instead of racing.

I think it comes down to the left/right brain manipulation. The left side is logic and control while the right side is emotion and talent. Anytime you hear a person say that they were in "The Zone", you can be pretty sure that they are actually trying to describe what happens when you relax the left side of the brain, and run completely on the right side. Things like American Football, Basketball and auto-racing happens TOO FAST to logically process it, so you have to rely on the "autopilot" response of the right brain.

I, too, am VERY interested in this subject as well. I had done this "Zone" entering all of my life, but didn't understand what I was doing, or how, until I read the Neo-Tech material.

It can be applied to ANYTHING that requires a response from the user, and usually attributed to muscle-memory and practice, but that is only half of the true answer.

I remember Heikki saying that Finnish people had the ability naturally to "tune in", and that is what he said made Kimi and Mika so good at racing.

Maybe Heikki needs to become Lewis' coach? I dunno....

Chris

[Miguel]

Things like American Football, Basketball and auto-racing happens TOO FAST to logically process it, so you have to reply on the "autopilot" response of the right brain.

Good point. That's actually the reason why I think the golf analogy is a flawed one. The difference between golf and nearly every other sport out there is that, in golf, you have enough time for everything, and you face failure and success the whole time. On the other hand, I can't see how someone that has learned basically all by himself will accept that a "nobody" tells him he isn't working the steering wheel with the appropriate rhythm.

[kishigae]

Considering the young age at which current drivers arrive at F1, I think a coach would be very useful for them. Especially with coping with the pressures at which some young drivers are subjected.

[mx_tifoso]

Considering the young age at which current drivers arrive at F1, I think a coach would be very useful for them. Especially with coping with the pressures at which some young drivers are subjected.

Or maybe one of the main problems nowadays is that many drivers enter at too young of an age. And they should wait a few more years to enter Formula One, by competing in a lower series such as GP2 for at least a season more. Doing so would add to their open wheel experience and allow them to mature a bit more as well. As mentioned by another member, Formula One isn't the place to be making stupid mistakes. This series is the pinnacle of motorsport, and this special recognition should also demand the best out of the drivers at all times.

Not to pick on Hamilton, but IMO he should have spent another season in GP2 to prove his worth. He did win the title in his maiden season, but another attempt might have shown everyone if he was capable of doing it twice or at least getting close. As well as gaining experience for his entry into Formula One, where he lacked some at times. So his career might end up being similar to that of a sprint race, and not like that of an endurance one from the lack of preparation. Only time will tell though.

[John Stitch]

Here's an update on this topic.

Schu 'guru' makes F1 return with Fisichella
Posted 19 July 2008 at 15:35 GMT

Michael Schumacher's former physiotherapist and 'guru' Balbir Singh has made a surprise and full-time return to the Formula One paddock.

The Indian - revered by former seven time world champion Schumacher as F1's best physio, masseuse, dietician and 'spiritual guide' - left the sport at the end of 2005 to spend more time with his German wife and children and set up a meditation business.

But Singh is back in the paddock at Hockenheim this weekend - wearing a uniform of the Indian-owned team Force India.

The German newspaper Express reveals that Singh is team driver Giancarlo Fisichella's new physio.

"I realised in the last few years that Formula One is my life," he said, explaining that he missed the sport a lot.

Singh was put in contact with Fisichella, the veteran Italian race driver, through his teammate Adrian Sutil's manager Manfred Zimmermann.