#95 - Luke Bennett, M.D.: The emotional, cognitive, and physical demands that make Formula 1 a unique and special sport

Mar 2, 2020 1h 38m 17 insights

In this episode, Luke Bennett, Medical and Sports Performance Director for Hintsa Performance, explains the ins and outs of Formula 1 with a focus on the behind-the-scenes human element, and what makes it so emotionally, cognitively, and physically demanding for the drivers as well as the many team members. Luke first talks about his fascinating background with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Australia, which lead to his current position with Hintsa working closely with F1 drivers to improve their health and performance despite jet-lag and sleep constraints due to an unrivaled travel schedule. Luke also sheds light on the underappreciated level of sheer physical strength and endurance it takes to drive an F1 car combined with the extreme cognitive aptitude, spatial awareness, and ability to navigate a socially complex environment that is needed to be successful as a driver. Additionally, Luke gives an overview of how the F1 season and races work, the incredible advances in car technology and safety measures, and what Luke and Hintsa hope to bring in the near future to the unique and special sport that is Formula 1. We discuss: <ul> <li>What it's like to be a "flying doctor" in Australia, and how Luke ended up working in Formula 1 with Hintsa [3:10]; </li> <li>Behind the scenes of Formula 1—crazy travel, jet lag, massive teams, and fascinating human storylines [10:45]; </li> <li>The incredible physical strength and cognitive aptitude needed to be a F1 driver [19:00]; </li> <li>The technological leap to hybrid electric engines [29:30]; </li> <li>The trend towards younger drivers in F1 [32:30]; </li> <li>Advancements in safety—the history and recent upgrades [36:00]; </li> <li>How Hintsa manages the athletes through the incredible social complexity of the sport [41:45]; </li> <li>Explaining the difference between F1, F2, F3, and F4, and the path to reaching the F1 [47:30]; </li> <li>Comparing F1 in the 60s & 70s to today—Incidences of deaths, number of crashes, physicality of driving, new regulations, and more [53:45]; </li> <li>Women in F1—Past, present, and future [1:06:10]; </li> <li>How F1 teams manage their cars and engine over the season, & some new regulations coming in 2021 [1:09:15]; </li> <li>What insights has Luke taken from his time as a triathlete to working with F1 drivers? [1:12:50]; </li> <li>How Luke survived cancer, and gained an increased sense of empathy [1:15:45]; </li> <li>How Luke manages his health against the brutal travel and lifestyle that comes with working in Formula 1 [1:19:40]; </li> <li>New training techniques, technology to monitor the physiology of drivers, and other things Luke is hoping to bring to Formula 1 [1:22:40]; </li> <li>How long does it take a driver to learn a new circuit? [1:27:45]; </li> <li>The incredible emotional control needed to be a successful F1 driver [1:30:00]; </li> <li>Which F1 teams are showing signs of competing in future seasons? [1:32:15]; and </li> <li>More.</li> </ul> Learn more: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/">https://peterattiamd.com/</a> Show notes page for this episode: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/lukebennett">https://peterattiamd.com/lukebennett</a> Subscribe to receive exclusive subscriber-only content: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/">https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/</a> Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/">https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/</a> Connect with Peter on <a href="http://Facebook.com/PeterAttiaMD">Faceboo</a>k | <a href="http://Twitter.com/PeterAttiaMD">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://Instagram.com/PeterAttiaMD">Instagram</a>.

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Actionable Insights

1. Prioritize Consistent Sleep

Prioritize getting 7-8 hours of sleep daily, even amidst difficult travel schedules, to effectively manage the physical and mental toll of demanding work.

2. Strategic Sleep Aid Use

For critical performance, consider using a sleeping pill for a one-night reset upon arrival in a new time zone, as this pragmatic approach can improve outlook and mindset for the days ahead when natural adjustment is difficult.

3. Adopt Time-Restricted Eating

Implement time-restricted eating and short periods of fasting to effectively manage nutrition and counteract the availability of unhealthy food options in demanding professional environments.

4. Seek Outdoor Activity Daily

Regularly get outdoors, expose yourself to sunlight, and engage in physical activity (e.g., biking, paddling) for several days, even if infrequently, and aim for daily movement (e.g., 10,000 steps) to counteract an unhealthy job environment.

5. Align Work with Passion

To sustain a demanding and challenging job, ensure it aligns with a deep personal passion, as this provides the necessary drive and resilience to overcome difficulties and maintain engagement.

6. Cultivate Emotional Control

Practice and maintain strong emotional control, especially in high-stakes, public environments, to prevent creating unnecessary stress or competitive disadvantages.

7. Experience Illness as Patient

For healthcare professionals, experiencing illness firsthand as a patient can provide a profound appreciation for the logistical and emotional challenges patients face, even with good care.

8. Pragmatic Jet Lag Management

When facing tight schedules and limited flexibility, be pragmatic with sleep and jet lag management, understanding that ’the perfect is the enemy of the good’ and focusing on getting through each day effectively.

9. Establish Basic Coaching Systems

For coaches and organizations, establish fundamental systems for athlete monitoring and scheduled assessments to create a foundational structure for human performance, while still allowing coaches flexibility for individual athlete needs.

10. Integrate Engineering and Coaching

Performance teams should foster closer collaboration between engineers and coaches, and cross-train coaches in engineering knowledge, to provide a more unified and effective information stream and support to athletes.

11. Manage Athlete Cognitive Bandwidth

Coaches and support staff should actively manage an athlete’s cognitive bandwidth, key relationships, and time, acting as an interface with external demands (marketing, media), and recognizing when the athlete needs rest, a holiday, or when they can be pushed.

12. Concise Information Delivery

For engineers and managers, the art of effective communication involves not only understanding and managing individuals emotionally but also filtering information to deliver it concisely and usefully.

13. Train Driving Skills via Karting

For aspiring or current drivers, engage in karting as a primary activity to train and refine pure technical driving skills, especially when limited by testing opportunities in higher categories.

14. Utilize Simulators for Preparation

For drivers/racers, utilize simulators for specific circuit preparation, but recognize that real-world experience is crucial for fine-tuning performance beyond initial familiarization.

15. Patience with Young Talent

For mentors and coaches of young talent, recognize that young individuals may lack the life experience to fully grasp complex lessons; be patient as they develop and gather experience to integrate various aspects of behavior and social complexity.

16. Watch F1 ‘Drive to Survive’

Watch Netflix’s ‘Formula One Drive to Survive’ series, starting with season one, to gain a deeper appreciation for the human stories, drama, and personalities behind the sport, beyond just the on-track action.

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