Arvid Lindblad has revealed he has almost never felt scared behind the wheel of a Formula One car despite the sport’s incredible speeds.
The rising racing star spoke to Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden on Heart Breakfast, where he explained that while he feels completely at ease on the track, he is much more cautious in everyday life.
When Amanda suggested Formula One drivers have to be fearless, Lindblad laughed and admitted that was not entirely true.
He said: “I wouldn’t say that I’m fearless. In the car, I don’t really care. Nothing really bothers me. But I wouldn’t say that I’m a nutcase when it comes to everything.”
The young driver revealed he is often the more hesitant one when spending time with friends, especially when they suggest activities such as cliff jumping.
He explained that while others are happy to leap in without thinking, he prefers to take a more careful approach away from the racetrack.
Arvid said: “When I’m with my friends and we’re doing cliff jumping, I’m normally a bit hesitant sometimes, and they’re more, ‘Just go and hope for the best!'”
Despite that caution, everything changes once he climbs into the cockpit of a Formula One car.
He said he feels completely comfortable at racing speeds and has “almost never been scared” while driving, even though his mind sometimes tells him what he is attempting should not be possible.
Lindblad also shared the advice he receives before qualifying sessions, revealing that he and his coach have developed a simple way of preparing for the intense pressure.
He said: “Your mind is almost telling you it’s not possible, but you know that it is. Quite often I would talk with my coach, and we’d just say before qualifying, ‘Just disconnect the brain,’ where it’s just like, you just switch off.”
Listen to Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden weekdays from 6.30am – 10am across the UK and on YouTube