“The Hardest Season Hit Me When I Got Home”
- Romy Kraus
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Why high performance in Formula 1 is about control, not chaos. Nicholas reveals how elite pit stops are more about mindset than muscle
From busted Renaults to racing royalty, Calum Nicholas has taken the scenic route through motorsport. Once a road car mechanic, now an author, ambassador, and the former power unit boss behind Red Bull's fastest pit stops, Nicholas' journey is a masterclass in pressure, persistence, and purpose. He’s been part of Max Verstappen’s title-winning campaigns, seen the highs of F1 glory, and felt the crushing weight of tragedy in the pit lane. But his real flex? Using that platform to open the sport's gates wider—for the next generation, for women, for people of color, for anyone bold enough to say, “I can do that.”
Now, he’s traded race-day chaos for storytelling, mentorship, and change-making. His book "Life in the Pit Lane" isn't just a career memoir—it’s a blueprint for what the future of motorsport could look like. And with the 2026 regulation reset looming, he’s watching closely, because this next lap for F1 is anyone’s race to win.
THE LOWDOWN
Red Bull’s fastest pit stops? Precision, pressure, “smooth is fast.”
Jules Bianchi’s death marked Nicholas forever: “I built the car.”
Max Verstappen is more than fast, he makes his whole team better.2026 rule changes are seismic: new power units, smaller cars, active aero.
Diversity in F1 is still a battle, Nicholas is fighting from inside the paddock.
Writing Life in the Pit Lane gave him a new purpose.
Mental health? “The hardest season hit me when I got home.”
“Slow Is Smooth, Smooth Is Fast.”
Why Red Bull’s pit crew dominated a decade
Forget world records, Red Bull didn’t chase them. They chased rhythm. Every 2.3-second pit stop was muscle memory, mental toughness, and team trust. Calum didn’t measure a win by a stopwatch. He measured it by flow.
The real flex? Recovering from a bad stop in under 4 seconds. With 100+ live stops a year, perfection isn’t the goal, resilience is.
“You can’t try and make up the time. You’ve just got to get back into rhythm.” – Calum Nicholas
“Consistency, not speed, was our goal. Speed was just the byproduct.” – Calum Nicholas
“I Built a Car. He Died in It.”
Jules Bianchi’s crash, grief, and finding purpose in the pain
Bianchi’s fatal crash in 2014 shook Nicholas to his core. He wasn’t at fault, but he still carried the weight. There was no time to process. No pause in the season. Just the next race.
What came out of that darkness? A deeper appreciation for team, culture, and accountability. And eventually, a moment to grieve, when Marussia folded.
“It felt unjust. We shouldn’t have been racing in those conditions.” – Calum Nicholas
“You learn who your team really is in those moments.” – Calum Nicholas
“I Just Want to Live.”
Why leaving the pit lane saved his life
After 10 years and 200+ days a year on the road, burnout wasn’t a risk, it was guaranteed. Nicholas saw the toll F1 was taking, especially on his daughter who “missed her dad.”
Stepping away wasn’t easy. The FOMO was real. But the role with Red Bull as an ambassador allowed him to stay close to the sport, without losing himself in it.
“There are very few chances in life to make change. I had to grab this one.” – Calum Nicholas
“I didn’t want to be doing everything poorly. If I do something, I want to do it well.” – Calum Nicholas
“Show Me a Good Loser, I’ll Show You a Loser.”
Why F1 runs on sore losers and sore muscles
The best in motorsport aren’t chill. They hate losing. Period. Nicholas says that hunger is what separates the lifers from the tourists. He’s worked with greats, but Verstappen’s drive set a new standard.
Pit stop training wasn’t just about muscle memory. It was about routine. From cigarette breaks to breakfast rituals, everything was engineered to control chaos.
“You’re doing 100 stops a season. Not all of them will be perfect.” – Calum Nicholas
“I perform better under pressure than when I’m relaxed.” – Calum Nicholas
“What’s It Like Working With Max?”
Short answer: terrifyingly good
Max Verstappen didn’t just win. He lifted everyone around him. Red Bull’s pit crew didn’t want to be the weak link. That kind of pressure? Motivating as hell.
And 2021? That wasn’t just a title. It was trauma. Nicholas calls it the most stressful year of his life. When Max crossed the line in Abu Dhabi, it wasn’t joy—it was relief.
“He got the best out of us. That’s what made him special.” – Calum Nicholas
“2021 was relief more than celebration.” – Calum Nicholas
“I Hated That I Was the ‘Diversity Guy.’”
Until he realized the power of visibility
Nicholas didn’t set out to be a diversity champion. He just happened to be Black in a sea of white. It took nearly a decade to understand the why, and to start speaking out.
Now, he’s part of Lewis Hamilton’s Commission. He’s giving talks, answering fan questions, and using every platform to make sure the next Calum doesn’t need to be the only one in the room.
“At first, I hated that people noticed me because of how I looked.” – Calum Nicholas
“My dad told me—if you can be part of the change, you have to be.” – Calum Nicholas
“Red Bull’s Making Their Own Engine. It’s a Huge Risk.”
Why 2026 might shake the sport to its core
New power units. Smaller, lighter cars. Active aero. And for the first time ever, Red Bull is building its own engine with Ford. They’re going toe-to-toe with Ferrari and Mercedes.
Will it work? Nicholas isn’t betting against them.
“Of the big teams, Red Bull are the underdogs. But if anyone can do it, it’s us.” – Calum Nicholas
“2026 isn’t just about the cars. It’s a total reset.” – Calum Nicholas
Quickfire
One thing that changed your life?
Going to the British Grand Prix. I saw the mechanics and thought, “They’re just normal guys. I can do that.”
The biggest misconception about F1?
That it’s all glamour. Most of it is grueling travel, exhaustion, and obsession.
First pit stop after Latifi’s crash in Abu Dhabi—remember it?
Not at all. I blacked out.
Your favorite Adele song?
"My Little Love." It made me cry in the mirror before Qatar.
Your message to anyone thinking they don’t belong in F1?
You do. If you’ve got the skills, there’s a place for you.
