Being in the best state pre-race is an important skill to develop. If you are too anxious your body will tense up and your motor skills will be less effective. On the other hand if you are too relaxed you will respond slowly to important cues such as the starting lights. You need to have just the right amount of energy coursing thorough your body for peak performance.

It is important to understand that everyone’s zone of optimal performance is different. Some drivers might like to hype themselves up with music or skipping whilst others prefer to lie in a dark place for five minutes to get themselves focused. It depends on what works for you.

A simple technique is outlined for you to try below:

Simple Technique One: The Centering Technique

The centering technique is a breathing technique designed to produce physical balance and mental focus. Centering involves a deep breath (from the stomach not the chest), an awareness of muscle tension, and a strong exhalation to relax the muscles. The use of self-talk ensures attentional control or mental focus.

The Centering Technique

Step 1: Whilst sitting make sure your feet are flat on the floor.

Step 2: Sit up in a straight position with your shoulders back.

Step 3: Expel the air from your lungs until you are unable to breathe out anymore,
empty your lungs in preparation for your first deep breath.

Step 4:Place your hand on your stomach.

Step 5: Take a deep breath through your mouth, breathe into your stomach
filling your stomach with air.

Step 6:: Focus on the physiological sensations of breathing, feel your
head getting lighter, and pay attention to your body filling with oxygen.

Step 7:Forcefully and fully expel the air from your stomach through your mouth.

Step 8: As you breathe out focus your attention on how you would like
to feel, for example you may say “focused and energized” or “confident and relaxed”.

Step 9: Keep focusing on your physiological response, feel your perspective
coming back into your life and your stress being released as well
as your relaxation increasing.

Step 10:: Repeat this process two more times and really
pay attention to the physiological changes that are taking
place within your body.

Step 11: Bring your focus to the task.

Step 12: Practice this technique 16 times EVERY DAY for TWO WEEKS!
If you do this it will become automatic. You will be able to
achieve a deeper state of relaxation and focus.

Leave your comments below and let me know how you
get on with this technique. Also let me know any techniques
that you find really effective for focusing your attention
and energy before a race.

Keep Racing!

Robin
www.f1driverssecrets.com

P.S. Don’t underestimate this technique just because
of it’s simplicity, it is powerful, effective and works really well!

P.P.S. Sorry not the most exciting picture in the world
but it definitely helps get the message about the importance
of energy levels!

How to Train Your Visual Sense Like Lewis Formula 1!

As we know driving a race car is far too quick to be done at the conscious level,
making decisions and thinking aboutthings, it is all done so quickly it is
at the reactionary level.

One of the areas that is so powerful for the quickest drivers is being able
to accurately judge and guess distances for example judging
the braking points.

Just like anything with practice your visual sense and you ability to judge
distance can be practiced and improved.

Two Methods To Improve Your Visual Sense

Method One

So for example maybe you are going to the shops. Pick a point and guess how many
steps away it is. Then count out the number of steps you took to get there (don’t cheat!) and
see if you were close.

As you get better at this you will get more accurate and you can transfer
this new skill to the track.

Method Two

This one is a lot more fun… and just as effective!

A lot of the top F1 drivers can drive remote control cars really well.
Why is this? Sure remote control cars are a lot of fun and maybe
there is that attraction to cars that go fast but in reality it is
fantastic for building up your visual sense. Think about it. If you set up a track
that you have to drive a remote control car around you have to get the distances
exactly correct using different angles for that car to successfully complete a lap,
this is awesome and so much fun for
training your visual sense.

(about the picture.. .sure Bourdais is no longer in F1 but how
good do you have to be to get there in the first place!)

Here is a good solid entry level remote control car that is
perfect for training up the visual sense:

Or if you are in the USA this one will get to you quicker:

So that’s it pretty simple (and fun) stuff.

Leave your comments and let me know your thoughts.

Keep Racing!

Robin
F1 Drivers Secrets