Q: “I am using sims to improve my racecraft. In my league, I frequently find myself against a driver who I don’t think will hit me, but he definitely does a lot of weaving in my mirrors, lots of unpredictable moves, and attacks when I least expect it. He’s not necessarily faster than me, but I can tell he has better racecraft. I am good at attacking and passing him, but I am not good at defending. So, in real life or a sim, how do you deal with that crazy Verstappen-esque character who is difficult to block and loves to live rent free in your head?”

A: So, you’re okay when he’s in front of you, but just not when he’s behind and harassing you? Is that correct?

You’ve heard me say this before, but I’ll say it again: You do what you do because you’re mentally programmed to do so; you sometimes don’t do what you want because you either don’t have the right mental programming yet, or you access the wrong mental program. Where do these programs come from? From physical or mental repetition. If you’re okay following and passing, you have the programming to do that. If you have difficulty with this guy following and attacking you, you either don’t have the programming to manage it, or you’re accessing the wrong program.

With that in mind, use your “I’m attacking” program when you’re being attacked. In doing so you’ll build a stronger program for being in front and being attacked. When he’s attacking you, pretend that you’re behind him and attacking him. You have a program to do that — you know you’re good at that, so use that mental program. When you’re in front, think (and say to yourself), “Attack,” and then drive like you’re attacking him.

How do you do that? First, when sim racing with this guy, take on a mindset of using this as a great learning experience, and that it’s a process of developing a strong program that is okay with being attacked. Then, do mental imagery of being calm, relaxed, and in control when being attacked. Spend 20 minutes each evening before bed (because what you do then sinks in during sleep) imagining and replaying various racing scenarios where you’re being attacked, and you manage it the way you’d like. Imagine you being the perfect driver in these scenarios — how would you respond to every attack he makes? Turn this into an advantage — your strength. You are “The Defender” by “Attacking.”

Between having a mindset around this being a learning opportunity, using mental imagery (every night for a month or two) to build the mental program of you being “The Defender,” and then accepting that you’re learning when you’re sim racing against this other driver, you will become the stronger driver.

I’d also suggest thinking of this other driver as someone who is actually helping you be an even better driver, rather than a crazy man. He’s helping you.

One last thing: It’s easy to think that simply practicing this in sim racing is better than imagining “The Defender” in mental imagery, but it’s not. Only in your mind can you do what you want perfectly. So, practice it perfectly in your mind, over and over and over and over… again.

Have fun with this!