Lewis Hamilton first stepped into the Mercedes-AMG Petronas automotive over a decade in the past. Before his signing, Mercedes was struggling to produce as a staff, 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 probably the most competitive motorsport on the planet. No matter how gifted the athlete, main the pack like that doesn’t come solely via pure capacity, and the driving force has discovered a system for fulfillment 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 monitor means as a lot simulation work as potential 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 staff is spending a while in Los Angeles. I’m already adjusting my mornings to waking up and going to mattress later to match with the schedule of an evening race. I’m additionally ensuring my meals and nutrition consumption suits the brand new schedule.
The key’s adjusting the sunshine I’m taking in—utilizing completely different bulbs with completely different brightness so I can preserve a great circadian rhythm. Since we journey a lot, I at all times ensure the rooms we’re staying in have blackout curtains so I can get a deep sleep at any hour. I like 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 like to sleep on my facet. The ones I’ve at house are Tempur-Pedic.
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Do you wrestle with sleep?
I’ve by no means been an important sleeper. For years I’d 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 up to the the primary occasion, which is later within the afternoon. So if I get up at 5 within the morning, I’m most likely peaking loads earlier within the day than if I get up at 8. So I’m sticking with waking up later, although lately I’m making an attempt to get extra like seven hours of sleep an evening.
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The Mercedes Benz staff 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 lodge really feel like a house away from house?
One of a very powerful facilities is a espresso machine within the room, as a result of I like to have espresso once I get up on race day or any day for that matter. I really like to play music, it calms me so I’ll have my music gear within the room as nicely. I’ve a keyboard that folds in half so it’s simpler to journey with. I actually need that lodge area to really feel like house. The Marriott staff takes that to one other degree, and typically they’ll also 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 once you’re working unusual hours your body can crave consolation. The simplest way to get that’s from food, so I would like to remove any temptation I might need to cope with later. Instead, I’ll ensure the fridge is full of healthy snacks like fruit.
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What’s probably the most difficult half about being a Formula 1 driver?
The Formula 1 season may be very difficult for all of the drivers. We’re going to 24 completely different nations, perhaps extra all year long, sitting in planes on a regular basis. Rest and restoration is a big a part of ensuring we’re on level when it comes to displaying up to the races prepared. There’s an immense quantity of journey concerned. My mindset is tremendously benefitted by meditation, so I strive 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 once I can put that focus into my psychological sport.
I like to start my day with optimistic affirmations, it doesn’t matter what state I’m in, and concentrate on the issues I would like to do. That’s the place issues like taking part in music turns out to be useful. Competing has change into very severe enterprise, and we work arduous, maybe too arduous. There’s immense profit to smiling to the body and thoughts. Exercise can be an effective way to assist me keep sharp, on high of being essential to succeeding in motorsports.
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Speaking on that, how do you train main up to and through a Formula 1 season?
I really like to run, in order that’s one in every of my favourite methods to exercise and keep on level in the course of the season. If I can get a great 40 or 50Ok in in the course of the week, I’m in a great place. That’s on high of the common workouts I’m doing within the fitness center. I by no means had a coach once I was youthful, however once I obtained to Formula 1 I started working with a coach who was primarily a physio. His program had me doing plenty of cardio and swimming. That was as a result of again within the day we had to preserve a weight of 68kg [150lbs], which made it troublesome to preserve any muscle.
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They modified these guidelines and now you might be heavier, so lately I sit round 74 or 75kg [163 or 165lbs]. That’s nice as a result of in my very own free time I really like to elevate weights and get after it. I’ll go to an underground fitness center in Los Angeles with my buddy Miles Chamley-Watson, who’s additionally an Olympic fencer for some intense periods. He’s very slender and tall, which is nice for his sport, however means I positively obtained him beat when it comes to the pullups. The solely drawback is after one or two good periods I’ve often placed on an excessive amount of and have to ease again.
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Any sudden cross-training that helps on the monitor?
During the winter months I do plenty of cross-country snowboarding and hiking. I additionally love to surf, which often turns largely into me swimming as a result of I don’t surf that nicely. That’s what I’ll be doing forward of Vegas, entering into the ocean on a board earlier than I’m again on the monitor.
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I see you are a fan of ice baths. How do you suppose chilly plunging helps you recuperate?
I do plenty of 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 automobiles. I don’t know if folks perceive the toll your again and arms are taking. There’s plenty of pressure going via your decrease again, knees, and ankles throughout a race. The decrease body may 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 periods. I used to save the chilly plunges till we obtained again house, however this previous yr we have introduced them behind the storage. I’m so sizzling once 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 change into such a giant a part of my regime that I‘ll carry a chilly plunge into the lodge room once I can. That and a little bit espresso are one of the simplest ways to start a race day.
