The importance of relentlessness in life, business, and motorsport

Great accomplishments depend not so much on ingenuity as on hard work: Thomas Edison - inventor, innovator and precursor of the modern entrepreneur - has been famously quoted saying that "genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration". Hard work always pays off, it seems, but what does "working hard" mean? Is it working long hours, avoid vacation, never switch your phone off? Some of the most cited, recently published scientific studies are challenging this construct, and some confirmation is coming from a surprising, but not unexpected, domain: motorsport.

Winning a Formula 1 race is incredibly difficult. Even the smallest margins of thousandths of seconds can ultimately decide the outcome of a race. It takes the perfect combination of a car's engineering in the factory, alongside the decisions made on the track during a race weekend, to be able to achieve victory. In the 2022 season which just wrapped, for example, only 3 teams were able to gain a Grand Prix win, and the bar to accumulate enough points to win either the Drivers' or the Constructors' Championship is extremely high.

In a recent Harvard Business Review article, leadership expert Frances X. Frei discusses with Toto Wolff, businessman and former racing driver who currently serves as the CEO and Team Principal of Mercedes-AMG Formula One Team, what it takes to succeed in such a competitive environment, and the importance of being "number one".

Mercedes-Benz has been the dominant force in Formula One over the past six seasons, having won seven Constructors' Championships and five Drivers' Championships. The article explains the key factors that have enabled Mercedes-Benz to achieve this success, and all the levers that Wolff pulled, from their investment in technology, their adherence to a rigorous process, to their commitment to innovation.

Frei argues that while many people believe that being number one is simply a matter of having the fastest car or the best driver, the reality is much more complex: being number one, in Formula One as much as elsewhere, requires a combination of several key factors.

Firstly, it requires a clear and compelling vision. This vision must be backed up by a strong set of values and principles that guide the team's actions and decisions.

Secondly, it requires a deep understanding of the mechanisms governing the your domain. In Formula 1, this means having a thorough knowledge of the cars, the track, and the various strategies and tactics that can be used to gain an advantage.

Thirdly, it requires strong leadership. This means having leaders who are able to inspire and motivate the team, and who are able to make difficult decisions and take calculated risks when necessary.

Finally, and most importantly, being number one requires a focus on continuous improvement. This means constantly striving to improve the team's performance, whether it's through innovation in the design of the car or through training and development for the drivers and the support staff.

Usually, scrutiny kicks in when success is missing, but Wolff points out something as simple as compelling: “if you don’t understand what is happening on a good day, you surely won’t understand what is happening on a bad day”.

Overall, Frei's article makes a compelling case for the importance of leadership in achieving success. For a team to win every part of the organization has to do superb work all season long and come together with an extraordinary sense of focus and purpose. Such a feat is likely possible only with the guidance of a highly effective leader who combines a clear vision, technical expertise, a focus on continuous improvement, and a relentless push for always raising the bar.

Disclaimer

What's above represents my personal views and not the opinion or policy of my employers or any other company, organization or individual I can be associated with.

The facts expressed here belong to everybody, the quoted sections, stetements, and imagery belong to their respective authors, the opinions only to me: the distinction is yours to draw...