Bojan Vrbnjak
Racers ideal condition their driving skills are called "the zone“. They are in condition full concentration, at best, they took control instinct and talent, the head becomes completely free and can take care of other things.
This is what a Formula 1 technician is about Pat symonds once said: “Fernando Alonso is extremely good at being able to read the race, so to speak. He can mentally disconnect from clean driving and has the reserves to think about the course of the race. I remember a race in Canada when Fernando spoke on the radio for almost the entire lap and it was also his fastest lap! So when I’m alone in the car and they call me, I definitely drive slower at first. But he obviously doesn't mind at all. This plus in mental ability sets him apart from his rivals."
Even more extremely but it was what it was in 1988 Ayrton Senna narrated by qualifications GP Monaco. The Brazilian described the condition in which it is practical observed himself, how he drives in a race car, everything worked automaticallyand the mind was disconnected from the body. “I already had a pole position, with a half second advantage, but I drove faster and faster, a second ahead of the competitors, then almost a second and a half. I drove only by instinct, I was in a different dimension than in the tunnel, beyond conscious understanding. I got out of the car and told my engineers, 'That's the maximum, there's no room for even faster driving.' I never got that feeling again.“Really amazing, we can add.
And what they can say today's racers about the feeling when they go to the race in search of the aforementioned situation "the zone"?
George Russell, Williams"When you put on a helmet, you become a different person. You get that vision of the tunnel. I become completely calm and very calculating. You only have two goals left: to drive as fast as possible and overtake the racer in front of you."
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin"It’s almost as if the world outside the race car doesn’t exist at all. Before you drive away, you can feel your heart beating in your throat, you have butterflies in your stomach, but it all falls off when it really starts."
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari"Everything takes on a competitive spirit and suddenly everything else is not so important to you anymore."
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes"In the race car, a warrior appears in me. Either way, I consider myself a warrior because I have to struggle with so many things every day. You need certain characteristics and if you give up, then you never get to the top. You need elbows and you have to be firm. That was the reason I went to karate as a boy because I didn’t want to be persecuted and intimidated. I wanted to defend myself. And it’s also in the race car. If you want to be successful, then you have to fight for it, no one will serve it to you on a silver platter. And if I have gained a place, then I will not give it back."
Mick Schumacher, Haas"I like to wear a helmet. I can see everyone, but the others don’t see me. When racing, I forget about everything around me. I only live in the moment."
Sebastian VettelAston Martin"You switch to another mode, you don’t want to think about anything else. We are all mostly ambitious. Otherwise we wouldn’t have gotten that far at all."
Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren"I love this state I get into when I drive on the track. In normal life, I like to be a kind guy, but the competitor in me demands that I be the most aggressive and relentless racer. And if I have to be successful, then so be it."
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes"When the engine starts, then the only role is played by racing. When I compete, I want to be successful, others don’t matter to me."
Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri"I think of nothing but my task. This is a completely different situation than outside the car."
Fernando Alonso, AlpineF1"The racetrack is not a place for kindness. This only leads to misunderstandings. So it’s better to always be aggressive."
