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Do you ever watch Formula One? You know that guy who always finishes at the end of pack that everyone laughs at? He's the (~)20th fastest driver on this plane

Do you ever watch Formula One? You know that guy who always finishes at the end of pack that everyone laughs at? He's the (~)20th fastest driver on this planet. Imagine how he feels. EDIT: People are getting hung up on the specifics here, so let me expand a bit: If you are, say, the 20th best at anything then how you feel about yourself depends on where you look. If you only look forward you'll be thinking "good greif, there are NINETEEN people in front of me, I suck!". If you only look behind you'll think you're the greatest. Just look at all the billions behind you. I think the key is a healthy combination of looking forward for motivation ("Just 19 more to go!") and behind for perspective.

PaulJoslin 16y ago
He may not be the 20th fastest driver. F1 is determined greatly by the car the driver is given. He may be the best driver (which I think would hurt even more). Kubica and Nico Rosberg are good examples of this. Both used to race against Lewis Hamilton in lower levels of motorsport and both used to beat him. However neither Kubica or Nico have been given a truely championship winning car yet to prove themselves.
- sgt 16y ago
  Yes, F1 is 80% car, and 20% driver. That is why I follow Moto GP. I would dare to say that it's down to 80% rider, and 20% machine. I find it lots more exciting. To get you started: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfPM77TsGaA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfPM77TsGaA
robryan 16y ago
In f1 a driver down the back of the pack may actually be a very good driver just without the car to support it. Just have to look at Mark Webber when he started out at Minardi he defiantly wasn't racing up the front but now with Red Bull he is always a strong chance.
ganley 16y ago
Flawed analogy (see replies), but amen nonetheless. My kids are on the neighborhood swim team, and are among the worst swimmers on it. When they get down about doing poorly, I remind them that they're better swimmers than the huge portion of the neighborhood who aren't even on the swim team, and that it shows (and builds) character to keep trying your hardest and working to improve even if you're among the worst on the team.

PaulJoslin 16y ago

He may not be the 20th fastest driver. F1 is determined greatly by the car the driver is given. He may be the best driver (which I think would hurt even more). Kubica and Nico Rosberg are good examples of this. Both used to race against Lewis Hamilton in lower levels of motorsport and both used to beat him. However neither Kubica or Nico have been given a truely championship winning car yet to prove themselves.

sgt 16y ago
Yes, F1 is 80% car, and 20% driver. That is why I follow Moto GP. I would dare to say that it's down to 80% rider, and 20% machine. I find it lots more exciting. To get you started: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfPM77TsGaA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfPM77TsGaA

robryan 16y ago

In f1 a driver down the back of the pack may actually be a very good driver just without the car to support it. Just have to look at Mark Webber when he started out at Minardi he defiantly wasn't racing up the front but now with Red Bull he is always a strong chance.

ganley 16y ago

Flawed analogy (see replies), but amen nonetheless. My kids are on the neighborhood swim team, and are among the worst swimmers on it. When they get down about doing poorly, I remind them that they're better swimmers than the huge portion of the neighborhood who aren't even on the swim team, and that it shows (and builds) character to keep trying your hardest and working to improve even if you're among the worst on the team.