F1 and Businesses Small and Large. A Vocation in Motion

What It Truly Takes to Be a High-Performance Team from the Bottom Rung to the Top CEO

I didn’t expect to find business inspiration in the world of Formula 1. But here I am, writing this after a long conversation with Billy FitzGibbon, a corporate leader and passionate F1 fan, realising just how many lessons from the track apply directly to the boardroom, the office floor, and the founder’s desk.

Billy and I come from very different backgrounds. He thrives in the fast-paced corridors of a large organisation. I’ve built and sold my own company, led a fully remote team, and now work as a coach and consultant with business owners and leaders navigating big decisions. Our shared interest in high performance led us to a powerful conversation about what it truly takes to create teams that thrive, whether you’re changing tyres mid-race or navigating a merger.

"What makes an F1 team so high-performing?" I asked.

Billy leaned in. “It’s not just speed. It’s culture, clarity, emotional awareness, and the ability to respond to pressure without falling apart.”

I nodded. That sounded a lot like leadership to me.

Culture is the Engine

We both recently read Inside Mercedes F1 by Matt Whyman, which gave a fascinating look under the hood of one of the most successful F1 teams in history. It wasn’t the engineering that impressed me most, it was the people. The culture.

“When everyone is aligned and playing in their best positions, we’re an invincible force. That’s not a family, that’s a tribe.”

That line stuck with me. It echoed something I say often in my coaching: great businesses aren’t built on heroics. They’re built on alignment.

At GroForth, the fully remote finance business I founded, I learned this the hard way. Our turning point came when a team member nervously asked to go to the doctor and offered to deduct the time from her holiday. I knew in that moment we needed to rebuild our culture around trust and psychological safety. That single policy shift, "No guilt, no explanation needed for health time" changed everything.

Culture isn’t a poster on the wall. It’s the air people breathe at work.

The Power of Psychological Safety

Billy brought up a story from the book that resonated deeply. James Hazell, a respected PR team member at Mercedes, made an offhand comment that a guest twisted into a loaded question at a press conference. He was mortified. But Toto Wolff, the team principal, simply reassured him.

“This isn’t your defining moment. I know who you are.”

Billy said, “That moment taught me what real leadership looks like. It’s not about avoiding mistakes, it’s about how you respond to them.”

I couldn’t agree more. During the early days of the pandemic, GroForth lost 85% of its revenue in 24 hours. My instinct was to shield the team, but instead, I leaned in. I told them the truth. We regrouped. They led the rebuild. And within months, we had grown by 33%.

That wasn’t because of my brilliance. It was because of theirs. Psychological safety isn’t soft. It’s strategic.

Succession, Pressure and The Seat

Netflix’s The Seat is a documentary that follows 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli as he prepares to step into the role vacated by Lewis Hamilton. Watching it, I was struck not just by the stakes, but by the support around him.

“Every weekend is a huge learning opportunity. I don’t think about easing myself in,” Kimi says.

It reminded me of so many business owners I work with who are preparing to exit. Whether they’re selling, merging, or handing over the reins, succession is not just a transaction, it’s a transition. It’s emotional. It tests your trust in people, in systems, and in your own legacy.

What impressed me most about Mercedes wasn’t that they picked someone young. It’s that they built the right conditions around him.

Lessons from the Track

I’ve always said the best strategy sessions are part business, part therapy, and part engineering. F1 confirmed that for me.

Billy and I broke down some of the parallels:

• Pit stop precision? That’s operational excellence.
• Strategy under pressure? That’s agile leadership.
• Feedback loops? That’s performance management.
• Engine tuning? That’s professional development.
• Clear team radio? That’s transparent communication.

At GroForth, our version of “team radio” was twice-weekly virtual huddles. Cameras on. Open ears. Fast feedback. Everyone knew what was coming next. Everyone had a voice.

And after every challenge, just like a race debrief, we asked: What worked? What didn’t? What’s next?

High Performance is Human Performance

Here’s what I believe. You can’t coach or consult your way into high performance unless the humans at the centre of it feel safe, seen, and supported.

The best teams I’ve worked with, whether scaling, selling, or stabilising, don’t rely on one superstar. They rely on shared ownership. They prioritise clarity. They allow space for growth and failure.

That’s why in my programs, we start with people. Always.

As Billy put it, “F1 looks like a sport about machines. But it’s really about mindset.”

What Kind of Tribe Are You Building?

This piece isn’t just a reflection. It’s an invitation.

To look at your business and ask: Are we clear? Are we aligned? Are we building a place where people can perform without burning out?

Because high performance isn’t about being the fastest. It’s about being the most aligned.

If F1 can do it at 200mph, surely, we can too.

If you’re curious to dive deeper, I’ve included references to the sources that shaped this article, books, podcasts and documentaries that sparked ideas and parallels. They’re worth a look, whether you’re a fan of F1 or just fascinated by what makes teams perform at their peak.

References

• Netflix, 2025. The Seat. [documentary] Directed by K. Thrash. Netflix, released 5 May 2025.
• Whyman, M. (2023). Inside Mercedes F1. London: Macmillan.
• Edmondson, A.C., Mortensen, M., Gardner, H.K. & Sinclair, A. (2020). Emotional Intelligence: Virtual EI. Boston: Harvard Business Review Press.
• High Performance Podcast with Toto Wolff. Spotify | YouTube