Driver of Promise Award - Benjamin Mazatis
awarded the McLaren Prize
At the end of his debut season in ADAC Formula 4, Benjamin Mazatis received a special honour. The 17-year-old was named „Driver of Promise“ by the McLaren Performance Academy – the Academy's most promising young talent. The award ceremony was held in a celebratory setting at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking.
At the start of the season, Mazatis was accepted into the McLaren Performance Academy for the second time in a row. Throughout the year, the decision-makers observed his commitment during workshops and training sessions, as well as his performances on the track. In the fiercely contested selection process, the 17-year-old ultimately triumphed over motorsport rivals from three continents and was recognised as the most promising talent in the McLaren Performance Academy.
The McLaren Performance Academy prepared Mazatis in a variety of ways for his further motorsport career. In addition to physical training sessions, he received instruction on the technical side of motorsport. Proper nutrition and media handling were also part of the development plan. The workshops were conducted by professionals with years of Formula 1 experience. Several times this year, the 17-year-old travelled to McLaren's headquarters in Woking, UK, for multi-day training and fitness programmes.
Benjamin Mazatis competed in his debut season in ADAC Formula 4 in 2015. In the highly competitive field of often more than 40 starters, the Bruckmühl-born driver showed consistent performances and gained valuable experience in formula racing.
Three questions for Benjamin Mazatis
You received the „Driver of Promise“ award. What does this award mean to you?
First and foremost, it's a massive honour to be part of this programme. With all the racing history and success in mind, it's mental for a young racing driver to walk around the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. Now to have won this award there means a great deal to me. It's one of the biggest achievements of my career so far and I'm loving it at the moment.
How should an outsider imagine working with McLaren in concrete terms?
The support programme is extremely multifaceted. We received coaching in the areas of proper nutrition, mental strength, physical fitness, and driving technique. Furthermore, we were allowed to visit the Formula 1 simulator, and the 3D technology and the calculation of G-forces truly impressed me. However, the mental aspect was particularly crucial for me. It is important to live in the here and now and not let your thoughts drift away. I constantly remind myself that I have to give my all at all times to live my dream of motorsport.
How did the special training on the track help you?
There are many areas where I've been able to apply my knowledge. I've discovered certain rituals or ingrained routines that I can now change for the better. This training is, of course, a process, and progress isn't always apparent in a single step. Fundamentally, you never reach the top level, as even after years in motorsport, there's still potential for improvement. There are plans for an MPA-16 Gold programme to be established at the McLaren Performance Academy in 2016. This would mean I'd be developed at a higher level and receive even more specialised training. That would, of course, be a positive step for the future.