The Pit Stop of a Lifetime

About Piastri, personal strength, and the importance of your social network

It struck me during the race: it wasn't Max, but Piastri who stirred something in me. While the drivers were doing their laps, I was going round and round in my own thoughts. Piastri is in fifth place, and it doesn't look like he's going to make a difference.

What's going on?

A small moment, a big impact

We already saw it happening before the summer. Piastri drove well, scored points, and made few mistakes. He is therefore rightfully in first place, ahead of his teammate Norris. Until something changed in a single race. On the team’s instructions, Piastri had to let Norris pass—under the guise of “collegiality” and “teamwork.”

On paper, it was a tactical decision. But in practice, something major changed.

You could see it in his demeanor, his gaze, his racing style. The sense of ease was gone. The confidence he had in his team—and perhaps in himself as well—seemed to waver for a moment. Not because he lacks talent—that is undeniable—but because his social environment at that moment wasn’t on his side; it was working against him.

And that really touches me. Because what happened at that racetrack doesn't just happen in the world of Formula 1. It happens every day, wherever people work together, live together, or try to show the best of themselves.

One's own strength cannot exist without others

We often talk about “inner strength”—about self-reliance, autonomy, and perseverance. But let’s be honest: no one does it alone. No matter how powerful your engine is, if there’s no fuel or if there’s sand in the tank, you won’t get anywhere.

Piastri can't win without his team. Without mechanics, without strategists, without a team boss who trusts him. And not without a teammate who's willing to let him win.

The same goes for all of us.

You may be the smartest, strongest, or most driven person, but if the people around you don’t recognize you, don’t support you, or—even worse—deliberately hold you back, you’ll get stuck. You’ll lose confidence in yourself because those around you aren’t nurturing it.

The Power of Being Seen

What elite athletes need, we all need: recognition. To be seen for what you can do and for the effort you put in. A little encouragement, someone who says, “I believe in you.”

Because that’s what social support does. It’s the invisible energy that gives people the courage to take risks and keep going. Without that network, without those people looking out for you, you’ll fall.

What does this say about us?

It’s easy to think, “Oh, elite sports—that’s a different world.” But that’s not true. The exact same thing happens in our own world—at work, in families, in healthcare, and in education.

We, as people, perform better and feel stronger and healthier when we’re part of a network that sees and supports us. Then we can take on the world and challenge ourselves. When I feel supported, I can do everything much better.

That goes for you, your clients, your coworkers, and your friends, too. For all of us.

If you want to tap into your own strength, you also need to consider your social context. Who are the people around you? Are they people who encourage you, or people who judge you? People who give you energy, or who drain your energy?

Your motorcycle is your social network

Piastri will find his way again. Maybe with this team, maybe somewhere else. But the lesson remains: even in a world where speed, technology, and strategy seem to determine everything, it’s still people—and their social environment—that make the difference.

Because no matter how fast you can ride, without a team to support you, you won't make it across the finish line.

And that goes for all of us.

Piastri has no choice about who’s there during his pit stop. You do.
Do you want to know for yourself who empowers you?

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