Between the steering wheel and the mind
Psychology in the context of high-performance motorsports.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5016/bjsphd.v1i3.19827Keywords:
Sports Psychology; Motorsports; High Performance; Mental HealthAbstract
Psychology in motorsports is still an emerging field lacking in in-depth scientific research. Drivers are constantly exposed to intense physical, cognitive, emotional, and social demands, making the role of psychology particularly relevant in this context. This study aimed to map and analyze the existing scientific production on the subject through a narrative review of seven publications: six scientific articles and one book chapter. For the analysis, the materials were organized into three thematic axes: everything on the track, before the track, and beyond the track. The results highlighted the importance of physical and cognitive training for driver performance, revealing a gap in studies focused on the mental health of these athletes. Therefore, we emphasize that deepening this field strengthens Sports Psychology, both in terms of performance and mental health in high-performance sports.
References
BRAGA, Harian Pires. Ayrton Senna do Brasil - A identidade nacional e o mito do herói no esporte, 2024. Disponível em: https://www.encontro2024.sp.anpuh.org/resources/anais/12/anpuh-speeh2024/1726796463_ARQUIVO_c777b384d0ef01043aeee9906442a87f.pdf.
BROWN, James; REVELL, Kirsten; STANTON, Neville. Quantifying mental workload in performance driving: The motor racing load index (MRLIN). Contemporary Ergonomics and Human Factors, 2020, p. 109-112. Disponível em: https://publications.ergonomics.org.uk/uploads/Quantifying-mental-workload-in-performance-driving-The-motor-racing-load-index-MRLIN.pdf.
COLAGRAI, Alexandre Contatto; BARREIRA, Júlia; NASCIMENTO, Fernanda Tartalha; FERNANDES, Paula Teixeira. Saúde e transtorno mental no atleta de alto rendimento: mapeamento dos artigos científicos internacionais. Movimento, v. 28, e28008, p. 1-19, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22456/1982-8918.118845.
CORDEIRO, Alexander Magno; OLIVEIRA, Glória Maria de; RENTERÍA, Juan Miguel; GUIMARÃES, Carlos Alberto. Revisão sistemática: uma revisão narrativa. Revista do Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgiões, v. 34, p. 428-431, 2007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-69912007000600012.
COZAC, João Ricardo Lebert; COZAC, Josiane dos Santos. Psicologia do esporte no automobilismo. In: COZAC, João Ricardo Lebert; PINHO, A. P. D. Psicologia do esporte: Atleta e ser humano em ação – Vol. 02. Curitiba: CRV, 2024. p. 351-369.
DA SILVA, Mauro Fernando Lima; FARIAS, Emanuelly Rocha. Efeitos do estresse mental sobre o desempenho de atletas de alto rendimento. In: Ciências do Esporte e Educação Física: Contribuições contemporâneas em pesquisa. Editora Científica Digital, 2023. p. 155-166. DOI: https://downloads.editoracientifica.com.br/articles/230412720.pdf.
DAL POGETTO, Gabriel; AMARO, Alexandre S.; FERNANDES, Paula T. Pilotos no controle: importância do treinamento mental para o desempenho esportivo. In: FERNANDES, Paula Teixeira (org.). Psicologia do esporte: Treinamento e alto rendimento - Vol. 1. Coleção Mente e Movimento - Explorando a Psicologia no Esporte, no Exercício Físico e na Saúde. Curitiba: CRV, 2025. p. 321-328.
FILHO, Edson; DI FRONSO, Selenia; MAZZONI, Caterina; ROBAZZA, Claudio; BORTOLI, Laura; BERTOLLO, Maurizio. My heart is racing! Psychophysiological dynamics of skilled racecar drivers. Journal of Sports Sciences, v. 33, n. 9, p. 945-959, 2015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2014.977940.
FÓRMULA 1. Everything you need to know about F1 – Drivers, teams, cars, circuits and more, 2023. Disponível em: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/drivers-teams-cars-circuits-and-more-everything-you-need-to-know-about.7iQfL3Rivf1comzdqV5jwc.
FRASCARELI, Lígia. Os "problemas psicológicos" do atleta: um olhar fenomenológico para a experiência esportiva. Revista Brasileira de Psicologia do Esporte, v. 3, n. 1, p. 115-129, 2010. Disponível em: https://pepsic.bvsalud.org/pdf/rbpe/v3n1/v3n1a08.pdf.
LAPPI, Otto. The racer’s brain – how domain expertise is reflected in the neural substrates of driving. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, v. 9, p. 635, 2015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00635.
LAPPI, Otto. The racer's mind - How core perceptual-cognitive expertise is reflected in deliberate practice procedures in professional motorsport. Frontiers in Psychology, v. 9, p. 1294, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01294.
MAZZONI, Caterina; BERTOLLO, Maurizio; DI FRONSO, Selenia; FILHO, Edson; ROBAZZA, Claudio; BORTOLI, Laura. Tutti in pista! Psicologia, fisiologia e neuroscienze nell’automobilismo sportivo, 2015.
MILNE, Jennifer; COFFEE, Pete; LAVALLEE, David. Benefit or cost? A rookie driver’s perception of high cohesion. International Journal of Motorsport Management, v. 8, p. 3, 2021. Disponível em: https://rke.abertay.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/34678657/Lavallee_BenefitOrCost_Published_2021.pdf.
POTKANOWICZ, Edward S.; MENDEL, Ronald W. The case for driver science in motorsport: A review and recommendations. Sports Medicine, v. 43, p. 565-574, 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-013-0040-2.
RIBEIRO, Paulo; LACERDA, Adriana; MELO, Raquel; HABIB, Leonardo Rosa; FILGUEIRAS, Alberto. Psicoeducação baseada em vivências no esporte: revisão bibliográfica e proposta de intervenção para manejo emocional. Revista Brasileira de Psicologia do Esporte, v. 8, n. 1, p. 56-65, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31501/rbpe.v8i1.8847.
RODRIGUES, Fabiano de Abreu. Os alicerces da terapêutica e da neurociência para o alto rendimento desportivo. Revista Científica Saúde e Tecnologia, v. 2, n. 7, p. 27152-27152, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53612/recisatec.v2i7.152.
ROELS, Guillaume. High-performance practice processes. Management Science, v. 66, n. 4, p. 1509-1526, 2020. DOI: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3480-2135.
RUBIO, Kátia. O trabalho do atleta e a produção do espetáculo. Scripta Nova: Revista Electrónica de Geografia y Ciências Sociales, n. 6, p. 95, 2002. DOI: https://www.ub.edu/geocrit/sn/sn119-95.htm.
STEWART, Perry; FLETCHER, David; ARNOLD, Rachel; MCEWAN, Desmond. Performance support team effectiveness in elite sport: a narrative review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, p. 1-24, 2024. DOI: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/1750984X.2024.2411215?needAccess=true.
WEINBERG, Robert S.; GOULD, Daniel. Fundamentos da psicologia do esporte e do exercício. Porto Alegre: Artmed Editora, 2017.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF SPORT PSYCHOLOGY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
