How F1’s pole winner approach undermines drivers

OPINION: Valtteri Bottas is credited with pole position for the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix, despite being beaten in qualifying. This is another example of Formula 1 and the FIA scoring an own goal by forgetting what makes motorsport magic, with the Istanbul race winner also a victim of this in the championship’s recent history

Alex Kalinauckas Oct 13, 2021, 2:10 PM

Upd: Oct 13, 2021, 4:11 PM

Motivation is a powerful tool for athletes.

Some think back to past slights or wrongs they have endured (even tiny ones most people would brush off) to drive them on to success. Others are determined to reward faith shown by supporters or family. Some target specific milestones.

Sometimes what motivates a sportsperson is out in the open. Other times its hidden – after all, it’s easy for targets to become distracting. Focus too much on a specific goal and you just might miss it. But don’t give it enough attention and it might slip away. There’s a tough balance to strike.

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Author Alex Kalinauckas

Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.

A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.