Formula One Race Engineering: Optimizing a Driver's Performance with a Winning Method

A behind-the-scenes account of the challenges faced by race car drivers both on and off the track

How do you gain an edge over the most technologically advanced race cars and the most talented drivers in the world? Find out how a racing driver can achieve this goal by working on specific skills to optimize his overall driving performance.

While working as a Performance Engineer in Formula 1 and other top racing series, Ernesto Desiderio has developed a highly effective method of optimizing a driver’s performance – to deliver that extra tenth of a second that can make all the difference to the outcome of a race.

In this book he explains the different steps of the P-D-R® (Perception-Decision-Reaction) Process and provides fascinating anecdotes about the world of motorsport.

“I have worked with many great engineers throughout my career, but the best ones are those who understand the driver and are able to give him the confidence he needs. Ernesto is one of them: he has given me invaluable support and helped me improve my performances on many occasions.”

“– Romain Grosjean

Ernesto Desiderio works with drivers to help them optimize their performances and achieve their best possible results. But how can this be done in the context of a near perfect process like Formula 1 racing? It may seem impossible to find an effective way to improve what is already so flawless, but it’s important to remember that there is always a margin for improvement. It’s bound to be small and hard to identify, but it’s there.

That’s why Ernesto has developed his own method of optimizing a driver’s performance – the P-D-R® (Perception-Decision-Reaction) Process – which breaks the driving process down into its main phases and analyzes which aspects should be worked on.

Ernesto Desiderio is a Performance Engineer and the creator of the P-D-R® (Perception-Decision-Reaction) Process. He has been working with the Haas Formula 1 team since 2018, engineering every setup direction with the aim of preparing the best possible race car, as well as helping drivers overcome their physical and mental barriers and optimize the speed and consistency of their performances.

Having been a fan of motorsports since his childhood, he decided to turn his passion into his job. After getting a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and an MSc in Automotive Engineering, he started working in the automotive industry, first with Dallara (both in Italy and at the Dallara Research Center in Indianapolis) and then with Toyota Motorsport, before joining the Haas Formula 1 team.

He combines an extensive technical knowledge with an ability to provide effective mental support to his drivers, focusing on their needs and challenges. This has led him to create a strong relationship of friendship and trust with all the racing drivers he has worked with over the years.