What does F1 and the human condition have in common?
Some people think that all sports are really, really stupid. A bunch of people in different coloured uniforms, breaking bones and tearing ligaments over an inflatable ball, the consequence of which doesn’t matter at all in the grand scheme of life. And
then there’s F1 racing. People driving around in circles for hours. Big deal. I’ve had to do exactly that at my shopping mall during the Christmas season. And trust me, there’s really no thrill involved.
But if we’re going to get all philosophical about it, what does really matter in the grand scheme? Wall Street investors going into conniptions on account of tiny electronic arrows pointing down? Computer programmers sweating over the creation
of software that will be obsolete in a year? A teacher whose lessons will invariably be forgotten?
So, whether its sports or just life in general, if you really break it down, most of what we do is pretty absurd. But you know what? We do it anyway because that’s life. And besides, it’s not necessarily what we
do per say, but the values by which we live. The investor’s knowledge helps the elderly prepare for retirement. The programmer starts a small company which puts people to work. The teacher goes above and beyond by passing on the joys of learning
to students. Life, in all its gradations of cosmic (and comic) absurdity, gives us the opportunity to affirm those noble values that make us proud to be human.
And the field of sports provides the perfect venue to showcase the very best of those qualities. And I’m not talking about money, or endorsements, good-looking babes, or the chance to be on a box of cereal. I’m talking about the idea of excellence, discipline,
focus, drive, will, determination, motivation, leadership, teamwork, and ambition. I’m talking about pushing the body and mind to the very limits, about being gracious in victory as well as in defeat. I’m talking about not giving up and throwing in the towel
when the writing’s on the wall. I’m talking about courage. I’m talking heroism.
Want an example? Ok, take the F1 racer, Jenson Button.
Flushed with a series of victories, his innate skill and acumen helped his team, Brawn GP, to secure the World Constructors’ Championship in its maiden season. He went on to win the World Driver’s Championship in 2009.
By the end of that F1 season, Button signed a three-year contract with McLaren that would begin in 2010. As he told reporters at the time, his motivation wasn’t monetary. Rather, he was relishing the challenge of driving alongside and competing head-to-head
with the former world champion, Lewis Hamilton, his new McLaren team mate. Riding the wave of good buzz, Button was in the drivers’ seat for 2010.
Of course, things haven’t gone according to expectations. Button’s debut with McLaren has been lukewarm. At the Korean Grand Prix last weekend, he finished at a disappointing 12th place. With only two more races to go and 50 points still up
for grabs, Button trails Ferrari leader Fernando Alonso by 42 points.
At this stage of the season, Button’s chances of winning are slim as even he acknowledged, “looking at it written down on paper, [I’ve] got to admit it's a long-shot.” But even though the promise of victory is now a remote (if not theoretical) possibility,
Button said he had to try.
“I'd regret it for the rest of my life if I chose not to go for it. So, for me, the situation's the same: I'll be fighting until it's no longer mathematically possible for me. In Formula 1, you just never know. Basically, you learn early on in this sport
that it's not over until it's over."
And what would Button regret for the rest of his life (which will undoubtedly be very comfortable regardless of the outcome of these races)? He would regret not trying, not striving for something higher than himself, not making it count. And that fear,
those potential regrets, are something we can all relate to, regardless of our personal finances, social status, or affiliation with different teams and events.
See? Button’s decision to keep striving in spite of the odds, to never give up, to never surrender – win, lose or draw, that’s heroism and integrity. That’s sports and life and what being human is all about.
As for driving around in circles, clawing and vying for the best positions, well that’s something we will all be relating to as the Christmas rush approaches.
Tags: