Sebastian Vettel talks about pressure and expectations in sport: Why low points and nervousness can actually be helpful—and what you can learn from them for life
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has spoken openly about how he dealt with the low points of his Formula 1 career – and admitted that there is no universal recipe for dealing with nervousness and pressure. “I think it’s very individual,” says the 38-year-old.
“There is no one recipe that works for everyone,” adds Vettel in an interview with Entrepreneur Middle East when asked about dealing with the mental and physical aspects of Formula 1. “Everyone is different. Everyone performs differently. Everyone needs a different environment to perform.”
“But when you talk about pressure and how to deal with nervousness or expectations, you have to be open enough to ask yourself why you’re experiencing this feeling of nervousness right now and not, for example, the day before.”
“What’s actually so bad about it when it gets out of hand? How can you learn to control it? People often say, ‘I wish I wasn’t nervous.’ But actually, nervousness is good,” adds Vettel, emphasizing that a certain amount of tension can even be useful and helpful.
“You can channel nervousness in a positive direction”
“You need it because it also means that you’re ready, that you’re excited—and you can use that feeling and channel it in a positive direction. That’s exactly what I mean when I say it’s very individual.” That’s why the four-time world champion can’t give a blanket answer.
“But I think you shouldn’t be afraid to ask yourself why you feel the way you do, what you might be missing at the moment, what the environment around you is like, what gives you a feeling of well-being. You should try to create more of what gives you peace and security so that you can perform well – and perhaps reduce the things that are less good, or consciously face them.”
Vettel adds that he learned a lot from his time in Formula 1 about how to deal with difficult moments – and that he has carried these experiences with him into his life after his career ended. “Even within a season, there are ups and downs. You have to keep going. You have to look ahead.“
”There are many things that work against you and don’t work out the way you imagine. Even if it may look from the outside as if everything is happening very easily. It never is,” reveals Vettel. “There are many obstacles along the way, many challenges that you can’t see from the outside, but which you have to deal with. It’s a great learning experience for everything that comes after.”
