Little things that inspire me #1: Gracious in crisis
The last lap radio comm between Lewis Hamilton and his race engineer Bono at the #TurkishGP today is still ringing in my ear.
Situation: Last 5 laps in Formula 1 is a physically and mentally demanding uphill task for the drivers. At this point they are at the brink of their physical and mental tether. They’re dehydrated, hyper focused all the while making centimeter level precise decisions driving a car at roughly 320 Kmph. Slightest distraction can at best cost them the race and at worst, be life threatening. The situation goes almost out of control when you’re trying to actively defend your position all the while trying to maximise the output of the race on the last laps. This is a situation where even the superhuman steely focus of a formula 1 driver caves in to the enormous pressure.
Radio communications from the Race engineers at this point are a big distraction and almost all drivers snap at their race engineers by just saying “Shut the f*** up, let me concentrate”. Everyone does this. Everyone breaks down mentally at this point. This is the norm. TV channels duly beep those curse words out. It’s all okay. We understand, the race engineers understand. No offense meant.
At that same extreme pressure situation defending his last 4 laps from a rampaging Pierre Gasly today, Lewis Hamilton, the greatest and most successful #Formula1 driver of all time said, in an albeit tired and dejected tone, to his engineer: “Let it rest, man”.
Let it rest, man.
No curse words. No flippant shouting. Just a composed, polite request to let him concentrate when radio comm was bugging him while he was desperately trying to defend his salvaged position.
He had every right to be angry today. Mercedes AMG insisted on the last minute pit stop to put on a set of new Intermediate tyres while he really wanted to stay out with his old ones and keep his P3 podium position. He started from the P11 today despite qualifying P1 yesterday (due to the engine penalty). He clawed his way back to P3 until his race engineer Peter “Bono” Bonnington insisted to make a pit stops at 8 laps to go and this strategy error probably cost him the podium today along with some valuable points at a neck-and-neck world championship this year.
Anyone had the right to be mad. Anyone would have been miffed at the strategist today. But champions aren’t just anyone. They’re a cut above. This is what they do — stay gracious in crisis.
It’s been a couple hours since the race ended but I am still amazed by that composure and absolute self control from the Champion. What a great lesson on the #worldmentalhealthday today. I’ll be reminding myself of this instance whenever I want to give up my composure and be rude to anyone. I’ll be reminding myself to calm down and rethink my actions. I’ll hope the readers of this post will try to do the same.
Thank you, LH44.
#betterconversations #pressurecontrol #leadership #communication