Let’s Be Real
The day you stop treating karting as a hobby… is the day you’ll start making serious progress. I really mean it.
You can be fast. You can have talent. You can even win a few races.
But if you don’t treat it like your job, like your future depends on it, you’re just wasting time.
And let me tell you something: in this sport (and in life), time is expensive.
Why Treating Karting Like a Hobby Fails
When you treat karting as a hobby, here’s what happens:
- You show up, drive your sessions, then mess around with your friends.
- You don’t look at the data, you don’t review video, you don’t ask for feedback.
- You skip the gym, or you train when you “feel like it.”
Sounds harmless, right?
But that’s the difference between a driver who fades away at 14 and a driver who makes it to cars.
Sure, that’s not the only thing required, unfortunately motorsport is a highly resource intensive sport so many talented and hard working drivers still end up quitting due to a lack of funding, but for sure this mindset and discipline will increase their odds of getting scouted and picked up by F1 Junior Teams or offered great deals in single seaters/GTs rather than the full price.
What Pros Do Differently
If you want to increase your chances of moving up, Formula 4, Formula 3, maybe one day F1, you’ve got to start now. That means:
- Train Like It’s Required
Cycling, running, swimming, gym. No excuses. Physical strength = mental strength. If you’re tired after two heats, you didn’t do the work at home. - Work on Your Mind
Mental coaching, visualization, sports psychology. Formula Medicine, 3-2-1 Perform, Athletica… these exist for a reason. If you’re weak in the head, you’ll never handle pressure. - Own the Data
After every session, check telemetry. Watch your onboard. Talk to your mechanic. Spot mistakes. Fix them. Every lap is a chance to learn. - Be Disciplined Off the Track
Partying the night before? Showing up late? That’s hobbyist behavior. Sleep well, eat right, stay organized. Discipline off-track = results on-track. - Commit Fully
You can’t think, “I’ll take karting seriously when I move to cars.” Wrong. If you’re not serious now, no one will give you the chance to even touch a car.
My Experience at BabyRace
Running BabyRace with my brother, I see this every day.
Some kids arrive fit, focused, and prepared. They do the data, they watch videos, they ask questions. Those kids grow fast.
Others? They’re playing on the phone, avoiding feedback, showing up unprepared. And then they wonder why the results don’t come.
Guess which ones I’d bet on for the future?
The Harsh Reality
Formula 1 has 20 seats. Out of 8 billion people.
Even Formula 2 and Formula 3 are insanely expensive and competitive.
If you’re not 100% committed, you don’t stand a chance. Luck alone won’t save you. Sponsors and scouts don’t chase hobbyists. They notice the kids who behave like pros.
You Don’t Have to Give Up Everything
Now, don’t get me wrong. If you’re 12 or 13, school is still important. You don’t need to drop everything.
Look at Kimi Antonelli. He was racing for Mercedes in Formula 1 while still finishing school. I was still in high school when I raced F3 against Charles Leclerc and F2 against Russel.
The point is balance. When you’re at the track, be all-in. When you’re at school, focus there.
But when you’re training (both testing on track and at home in the gym)? Train like your career depends on it.
Ask Yourself This
Do you want to just have fun? Win a few races, enjoy the weekends, and then move on with your life?
That’s fine. Karting as a hobby is still great fun.
Or…
Do you want to give yourself a real shot at becoming a professional?
Competing in WSK, Champions of the Future, FIA events, moving up to cars?
If it’s the second option, karting stops being a hobby. Today.
Final Thoughts: Hobbyists Don’t Make It
The truth is simple:
- Treat karting as a hobby → stay a hobbyist.
- Treat karting as a profession → give yourself a chance to become a PRO driver.
You can’t flip the switch later. You’ve got to start now.
I’ve seen it too many times as a coach and team manager — the ones who commit early, who train like pros, who think like pros — those are the ones who I believe will make it.
So, ask yourself right now:
Are you a hobbyist, or are you chasing the dream?
Because once you make the decision, everything changes.
