Motorsport –a mental health game changer?

FOR PETROLHEADS

Motorsport –

a mental health game changer?

Research conducted by the charity Mind shows that one in five people will open up about their own mental health problems after hearing a celebrity or someone in the public eye speaking out; motorsport is becoming an increasingly important part of that conversation.

At first blush, the concept of F1 teams or their drivers 'switching off' from the high octane world of professional motor sport sounds implausible. Thriving on agility, endurance and split-second decision making at a level the average motorist could barely conceive, it is surely one of the most mentally challenging sports in the world. Add to that the limited job security, frequent travel and potentially catastrophic consequences of even the slightest miscalculation and you’re left with a potent cocktail of pressure, risk and stress.

When Mercedes hired a psychologist in 2014 to help manage the strain of competing within its then dominant F1 team, champion Lewis Hamilton presented a tough face to the media, insisting that he had no interest in seeking such help, on the basis that 'since I was eight years old, I’ve won every championship I’ve competed in, and all I’ve needed is me and my family'.

In recent months, however, he’s given a far franker assessment of his long battle with mental health and depression, following the racial abuse and

bullying he experienced at school, the impact aged 9 of the death of his hero Ayrton Senna at the 1994 Imola Grand Prix, and the intense pressure of racing competitively from a young age. His decision to open up was ultimately triggered by the death of George Floyd and the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement when, as Hamilton put it, 'the cork popped.…it was such a strange experience because I don’t remember crying since I was really young. I knew that I’d had enough, I really needed to speak out'.

He is by no means alone. Following a significant crash and what he perceived as a low point in his career, his successor at Mercedes George Russell publicly shared that he had sought the help of a mental health professional, in a bid to encourage more men to take care of this aspect of their health. McLaren's Lando Norris has also taken a strong lead by declaring his willingness to be a mental health pioneer in F1, recently sharing that he suffered years of self-doubt, compounded by the expectation that he could never give the opposition an edge, or show any weakness.

When Red Bull motorsport executive Helmut Marko then used an interview with the German publication ‘Motorsport Magazin’ to denounce

#WeRaceAsOne

Norris as not mentally strong enough to dethrone his own team’s Max Verstappen, he faced significant criticism from McLaren chief Zak Brown and the wider community. Brown responded decisively that 'to choose to poke at that situation is pretty inappropriate and it sets us back 10 or 20 years'. The psychotherapist and former F1 trainer Simon Fitchett described his comments as seriously harmful, particularly in relation to the general public, many of whom lack the resources and support networks to overcome such personal challenges.

The key question is whether there is a genuine commitment to improving mental health from the top down, or whether Motorsport execs are riding what they perceive as a popular bandwagon. Happily, the initial signs are encouraging.

Internally, F1's #WeRaceAsOne initiative - a platform aimed at tackling the biggest issues facing Motorsport and global communities - has expanded its scope beyond the planned areas of diversity, sustainability and inclusivity. Mercedes has recruited a well-being manager and made more than 40 mental health first aiders available to all employees, whilst tyre manufacturer Pirelli has funded a scholarship programme for young drivers at Porsche Italy, including mental coaching, workouts and media training.

Externally, Mercedes and McLaren have maintained partnerships with the mental health charity Mind, raising considerable funds and building awareness. Motorsport UK currently supports Every Mind Matters, Public Health England's recently launched campaign in partnership with the NHS offering an online platform for users to create bespoke action plans for dealing with stress, boosting low mood and improving sleep quality.

#WeRaceAsOne

Of course, Motorsport is by no means alone in tackling mental health stigma. High profile athletes such as Simone Biles, one of the most highly decorated gymnasts of all time, and Naomi Osaka, four times tennis grand slam champion, have spoken openly about their own struggles in a bid to encourage other sufferers to seek help.

Ultimately and as psychotherapist Simon Fichett concludes, we could all benefit by seeking to be as open and self-aware as these elite athletes and F1 drivers about our mental health, as 'once you understand who you are and what your strengths and weaknesses are, you can then actually understand others very quickly. And that really is a superpower'. 

Joel Leigh is the motoring correspondent of City Solicitor and a Partner at Howard Kennedy LLP