Lewis Hamilton first stepped into the Mercedes-AMG Petronas automotive over a decade in the past. Before his signing, Mercedes was struggling to supply as a crew, however with the younger, crafty Brit behind the wheel, issues modified. Since then, Hamilton has scored the report for many wins, pole finishes, and podium finishes in essentially the most competitive motorsport on this planet. No matter how gifted the athlete, main the pack like that doesn’t come solely by pure skill, and the driving force has discovered a method for achievement that follows him throughout the globe.
Men’s Journal spoke with Hamilton on how he prepares to drive circuits he’s by no means seen earlier than at speeds over 200 miles per hour, his favourite cross-training actions, and the journey routines that maintain him on the entrance of the pack.
Men’s Journal: F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix has a start time of 10p.m. PT. How are you prepping for an evening race—any hacks?
Lewis Hamilton: Preparing to drive a brand new observe means as a lot simulation work as doable to get a really feel for the course. I’ve two full days that I’ll do within the sim earlier than I land in Vegas. It’s necessary to regulate your inner clock, so earlier than we get to Nevada, the crew is spending a while in Los Angeles. I’m already adjusting my mornings to waking up and going to mattress later to suit with the schedule of an evening race. I’m additionally ensuring my meals and nutrition consumption suits the brand new schedule.
The secret’s adjusting the sunshine I’m taking in—utilizing totally different bulbs with totally different brightness so I can keep a great circadian rhythm. Since we journey a lot, I at all times make sure that the rooms we’re staying in have blackout curtains so I can get a deep sleep at any hour. I wish to maintain the room cool, which makes the mattress extra welcome. The mattress itself can be essential, I like a firm pillow as a result of I wish to sleep on my aspect. The ones I’ve at dwelling are Tempur-Pedic.
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Do you wrestle with sleep?
I’ve by no means been an excellent sleeper. For years I might go to mattress at 2 or 3 within the morning and sleep for about 5 hours. But, to be trustworthy, that labored for me, as a result of our days are main as much as the the primary occasion, which is later within the afternoon. So if I get up at 5 within the morning, I’m in all probability peaking lots earlier within the day than if I get up at 8. So I’m sticking with waking up later, although nowadays I’m making an attempt to get extra like seven hours of sleep an evening.
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The Mercedes Benz crew has a partnership with Marriott Bonvoy and The Ritz-Carlton, which looks as if a sensible one given how a lot you journey. How do you make a resort really feel like a house away from dwelling?
One of a very powerful facilities is a espresso machine within the room, as a result of I wish to have espresso after I get up on race day or any day for that matter. I like to play music, it calms me so I’ll have my music tools within the room as properly. I’ve a keyboard that folds in half so it’s simpler to journey with. I actually need that resort house to really feel like dwelling. The Marriott crew takes that to a different degree, and typically they’ll actually have a image of my canine, Roscoe, on the nightstand.
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It’s additionally about what I’ve them take out of the room. I’ve them take out all of the snacks and something from the minibar, as a result of whenever you’re working unusual hours your body can crave consolation. The best approach to get that’s from food, so I need to remove any temptation I might need to take care of later. Instead, I’ll make sure that the fridge is full of healthy snacks like fruit.
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What’s essentially the most difficult half about being a Formula 1 driver?
The Formula 1 season could be very difficult for all of the drivers. We’re going to 24 totally different nations, perhaps extra all year long, sitting in planes on a regular basis. Rest and restoration is a large a part of ensuring we’re on level in the case of displaying as much as the races prepared. There’s an immense quantity of journey concerned. My mindset is tremendously benefitted by meditation, so I attempt to prioritize it. I don’t at all times get to, and I can really feel the distinction, however the schedule can get very hectic. I at all times do higher after I can put that focus into my psychological sport.
I wish to start my day with optimistic affirmations, it doesn’t matter what state I’m in, and deal with the issues I need to do. That’s the place issues like taking part in music is useful. Competing has develop into very critical enterprise, and we work exhausting, maybe too exhausting. There’s immense profit to smiling to the body and thoughts. Exercise can be a good way to assist me keep sharp, on high of being vital to succeeding in motorsports.
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Speaking on that, how do you train main as much as and through a Formula 1 season?
I like to run, in order that’s one in all my favourite methods to exercise and keep on level throughout the season. If I can get a great 40 or 50K in throughout the week, I’m in a great place. That’s on high of the common workouts I’m doing within the health club. I by no means had a coach after I was youthful, however after I bought to Formula 1 I started working with a coach who was primarily a physio. His program had me doing numerous cardio and swimming. That was as a result of again within the day we needed to keep a weight of 68kg [150lbs], which made it troublesome to keep up any muscle.
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They modified these guidelines and now you may be heavier, so nowadays I sit round 74 or 75kg [163 or 165lbs]. That’s nice as a result of in my very own free time I like to elevate weights and get after it. I’ll go to an underground health club in Los Angeles with my good friend Miles Chamley-Watson, who’s additionally an Olympic fencer for some intense classes. He’s very slender and tall, which is nice for his sport, however means I positively bought him beat in the case of the pullups. The solely downside is after one or two good classes I’ve normally placed on an excessive amount of and must ease again.
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Any surprising cross-training that helps on the observe?
During the winter months I do numerous cross-country snowboarding and hiking. I additionally like to surf, which normally turns principally into me swimming as a result of I don’t surf that properly. That’s what I’ll be doing forward of Vegas, entering into the ocean on a board earlier than I’m again on the observe.
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I see you are a fan of ice baths. How do you assume chilly plunging helps you get better?
I do numerous ice baths, or cryotherapy if it’s out there, for restoration. That’s been a game-changer for me. There’s barely any suspension in our vehicles. I don’t know if individuals perceive the toll your again and arms are taking. There’s numerous pressure going by your decrease again, knees, and ankles throughout a race. The decrease body could be very tense. Getting within the chilly for a great three minutes actually helps carry down the body temperature and resets you mentally.
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Those are much more essential on the race weekends, earlier than or after the race classes. I used to save lots of the chilly plunges till we bought again dwelling, however this previous 12 months we have introduced them behind the storage. I’m so scorching after I get out of the automotive, and there’s no bathe the place we’re. I’m heading to engineering soaked with sweat. They’ve develop into such an enormous a part of my regime that I‘ll carry a chilly plunge into the resort room after I can. That and just a little espresso are one of the simplest ways to start a race day.
