I've made a lot of friends over the years through racing, but we weren't necessarily teammates.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I didn't get into racing to make friends.
I think it is possible to be friends even if you're competing. You know, there's so many guys in rooms that try to psych each other out, and it doesn't work. It only hinders their work.
To be teammates in Formula One actually means you are first rivals, not really mates.
When I grew up, I had a lot of fun ski racing with my friends. We pushed each other, and this made it easier to work hard.
I don't remember my first race, but I do recall various school sports days where I became way too competitive. We were seven or eight years old, and I had a very stern conversation with my relay team-mates about how crucial it was for us to win.
I've never felt any sense of competition with anybody, and we're all friends; we're all good friends.
I couldn't begin to name names... in general I have found racers to be some of the most competitive people on the planet... and some of the nicest as well.
In closing I wish to say that while I was sorely beset by a number of white riders in my racing days, I have also enjoyed the friendship of countless thousands of white men whom I class as among my closest friends.
I've never had a teammate competing with me my whole life.
I think our dad and our mom have always told us that in racing we're a team, and we work together, and that's how it's always been, and I think that's how it's always going to be.