Changing emotion to speed

[Phoenix1]

I started this thread because I was thinking about Jensons drive at the German GP and thought that the factors of an engine change and banning of the wing would, even if not showing to the public, internally really annoy him and the team.

Having read a book on James Hunt I gather that firstly added a second onto every lap in testing to get him to go faster and also delibratly annoyed him by messing something up or leaving him on the jacks before the race for a long period of time so he would use the pent up angry as a 'driving force' and the reason he was not so good at McLaren was that the smooth running of the team ment he was calm and thus no emotion to drive him onward.

If you where to look at two drives from the same era I would pick Prost and Senna, calculated vs emotional.

Which drives do you think are most effected by emotion and which drive the same whatever happens.

[Kicking-back]

James Hunt "not so good" at McLaren?

He won the world title!

[garcon]

Some people might be surprised at this, but I think one of the drivers on the current grid who is most significantly affected by emotion is Michael Schumacher. Many times he has channelled his emotions into an enhanced level of motivation, often leading to an inspired victory. The most significant example that springs to mind is Michael's performance in the race just after his mother died.

[Kicking-back]

Often channelling anger or emotion into a drive results in a crash rather than speed.

[Phoenix1]

Originally posted by Kicking-back
James Hunt "not so good" at McLaren?

He won the world title!

Compare him to the Hesketh days and wonder how much better he could of been

[Kicking-back]

James got the best results he possibly could have done in 1976, particularly in the circumstances.

[Kirk]

An interesting subject and I'm sure a paper could be written on this subject (and likely has). IMO, emotion can be directly channelled into a better performance, but only in the short term. Eventually it will bite you. I think it is Schumi's unemotional, calculating side that gives him his speed and I think you'll find that many of the faster drivers over the years have that same ability .. ie. the ability to concentrate at a very high level and not allow emotion to dictate your driving. Of course there are exceptions, JPM for example, some say that emotion is his nemesis, others would argue that emotion is what makes him fast.

[Logrence]

Originally posted by garcon
Some people might be surprised at this, but I think one of the drivers on the current grid who is most significantly affected by emotion is Michael Schumacher. Many times he has channelled his emotions into an enhanced level of motivation, often leading to an inspired victory. The most significant example that springs to mind is Michael's performance in the race just after his mother died.

He wasn't so good at Monza in 2001...

I think Michael with his amazing talents is just brilliant at focusing on the job in hand. His concentration and his intellect is what gives him that edge over other drivers.

[SKT]

[i] I think it is Schumi's unemotional, calculating side that gives him his speed and I think you'll find that many of the faster drivers over the years have that same ability .. [/B]

I'd have to agree in regards to MS's particular mental make up. The unemotional calculating side gives him an undeniable reserve over other drivers.

And in regards to JPM, emotion can be just as effective - it is however IMO more difficult to sustain over a race distance but if it works for a driver, it works.

I recall an interview with Eddie Cheever a long time ago regarding his need to really conjure up anger within himself to really get himself mentally prepared for a race - it must have been very tiring or him but, again it worked for him and it seemed like he could call upon this reserve at will.