What does it take to be an Aston Martin Aramco driver? We found out by spending a day alongside the team's Driver Academy as its rising talents tackled a programme of physical assessments and performance testing at the AMR Technology Campus.
The stopwatch isn't recording lap-times.
Instead, it's counting down the final moments of a VO₂ max test. On one side of the gym in the AMR Technology Campus, Zhenrui Chi pushes through every stride on a treadmill, a mask strapped tightly across his face. On the other side, Mari Boya braces against a weighted harness as his neck takes the strain. Elsewhere, force plates record Mathilda Paatz’s every jump, and physiotherapists assess movement patterns.
Our entire Driver Academy squad is being put through their paces across a variety of different exercises, assessing their endurance, strength, and power – all vital attributes for driving a racing car.
Offering a revealing insight into the relentless commitment and determination required to pursue a career in the cockpit, every assessment forms part of a bigger picture: understanding each athlete as an individual, identifying strengths, highlighting areas for development and building the foundations for long-term success.
Mari, Mathilda, Zhenrui, Ava Lawrence and Roland Nagy are all in attendance with one goal: discovering where the next performance gains can be found.
The assessment day
One by one, the drivers rotate through each station and the older members of the academy also undergo blood testing to assess nutritional status, recovery markers and overall health.
Every station asks them the same question: where can you improve?
We spoke to Lance Stroll's Performance Coach and the man leading on driver performance and health Henry Howe, Team Doctor Dr Rahul Chotai, and Driver Academy Racing Director Nuno Pinto to get the lowdown on the purpose of the day.
"The aim of the test day is to take a snapshot of where each driver is athletically and in their overall health," explained Henry.
"We're not looking to compare them to one another. They all have different backgrounds, different training histories and they're at different stages of their careers. This is about understanding where they are now so we can support their development over time."
Historically, motorsport has invested heavily in engineering and technology but human performance hasn't always received the same attention – particularly with younger drivers hoping to break into F1.
Across the day, the Academy drivers rotated through a series of assessments designed to evaluate every aspect of their physical preparedness:
VO₂ max testing – where the athlete runs on a treadmill or uses an exercise bike while wearing a mask – measured cardiovascular fitness; musculoskeletal screenings assessed joint and muscle health while identifying potential injury risks; VALD force plate testing analysed strength and power output; and neck strength assessments focused on one of the most race-specific physical demands placed on a driver, with a weighted harness applied to the athlete's head which they have to resist.
Together, the assessments create a comprehensive picture of an athlete's current condition – information that can be used to shape personalised training, nutrition and recovery plans.
Prevention is better than cure
Dr Rahul explained why the value of the day lies just as much in prevention as it does in performance: "If today's assessments identify anything that isn't quite right, we can address it early, often before it affects either their health or their performance. That's the value of taking a proactive approach to health. We're aiming to identify problems early and address them before they impact health or performance."
The data collected becomes the blueprint for each driver's continued development, with our team working together with each driver’s personal trainer to tailor programmes around the individual's needs before reassessing progress at specific points in the future.
"We'll discuss the findings with both the driver and their trainer, identify any areas that need attention and develop an individualised plan," Dr Rahul said.
"My role is to support the drivers throughout their development – not just when they're injured or unwell, but by helping them optimise every aspect of their health. That includes interpreting blood tests, monitoring their overall health and wellbeing and working closely with their trainers. Our aim is to give every driver the best possible platform to perform consistently at their highest level.
"When we reassess later in the season, we can objectively measure whether any interventions we've made have had the desired effect or whether the programme needs adapting."
The approach reflects a wider evolution in motorsport, where performance is increasingly measured by the athlete as much as the machine.
"Historically, motorsport has invested heavily in engineering and technology but human performance hasn't always received the same attention – particularly with younger drivers hoping to break into F1," said Henry.
"Young drivers are expected to operate professionally from a very early age. They're learning engineering, strategy and racecraft while travelling extensively around the world. It's about making sure their bodies are developing healthily and that we're not leaving any stone unturned.
"The goal of training, eating well and looking after your health is that when you arrive at the racetrack, you arrive with a full battery. Then all of your energy can go into driving."
You can be fast, but nowadays you also need to be good at so many other things as a driver, and I want to be at 100 per cent in every area.
Laying the foundation
Just as importantly, the day brought the members of the Driver Academy together for the first time, allowing them to bond in between exercises.
"It was a great day overall," reflected Nuno. "It was the first time our Driver Academy drivers were all together to share experiences, ask questions and receive feedback from all the professionals involved in their development.
"As soon as you see the results, you can identify where they excel and where they have room to improve, so you can immediately start those conversations.
"The main work of the Academy happens at the racetrack because that's where we see the results. But everything we do on days like today is laying the foundation for that. These preparation days help us give our drivers the best possible support so they can achieve the strongest results when it matters most."
The driver verdict
While the assessments were demanding, the drivers embraced the opportunity to benchmark themselves, discover where they can improve and spend time together.
Mari Boya
"I'm really competitive, so if I see something I can improve, I'll work as hard as I can to do so. Days like today are preparing me for the future and for what I've dreamed about my whole life. You can be fast, but nowadays you also need to be good at so many other things as a driver, and I want to be at 100 per cent in every area.
"I’m racing this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps in F2 so it's always nice to feel sharp before jumping into the car."
Mathilda Paatz
"Today's been about seeing where our fitness level is and how we can keep improving.
"Normally I like training as you can see the progress you're making and it's been nice to mix with the other drivers, including Ava as the other girl in the Driver Academy."
Zhenrui Chi
"Most of the tests I'd done before, but it's still good to see where my level is. It's been nice to meet the other drivers, too. They're really friendly and we've had fun."
Ava Lawrence
"I learned what I need to train for and what I'm already good at. The toughest bit was the neck exercise, but I liked seeing what I could do."
Roland Nagy
"I can see now where I can get better. That's the goal of days like today – to learn what I need to improve. I really enjoyed it."
By the end of the day, the force plates stopped recording, the treadmills fell silent and the data had been collected. The real work, however, is only just beginning.
Being a racing driver isn't simply about being fast in the car. It's about committing to every detail, embracing every opportunity to improve and having the determination to act on what the data reveals.
For the committed, finding your limits is only the first step.
Related content
Mathilda Paatz reflects on maiden F1 ACADEMY victory
Read more
Mari Boya on his GT3 debut, working with Lance Stroll, and the return of F2 in Miami
Read more
Get to know Zhenrui Chi, the latest member of the Aston Martin Aramco Driver Academy
Read more
F1 and NASCAR aspirations and wanting to be in Drive to Survive: Meet Ava Lawrence
Read more
Looking up to Fernando and dreams of driving the Hungaroring: Meet Roland Nagy
Read more
Mathilda Paatz is keeping things simple
Read more
Inside the bubble: How Lance Stroll got ready for the 2026 F1 season
Read more
The seven-step guide to keeping an F1 race team fit and healthy
Read moreAston Martin Aramco Driver Academy
From karting to single-seaters, the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team Driver Academy is dedicated to identifying and developing the next generation of exceptional motorsport talent.
The Academy provides a clear path to the top tiers of racing through tailored racecraft mentorship, simulator work, physical training, media coaching and race weekend immersion.
Amplify your fan experience
From exclusive collabs to once-in-a-lifetime prizes, I / AM DROPS is a series of unique and ultra-limited moments and fan experiences.
Sign up for I / AM or sign in to unlock.
