That message got here from Formulation One Daniel Ricciardo on the finish of 2017, who wished Italiano to journey the world with him as his efficiency coach.
The pair, who had met by mutual mates in Perth on the age of 12, hadn’t mentioned the potential for working collectively earlier than, and most of Italiano’s expertise of F1 had come from following Ricciardo’s rise by the motorsport ranks over time.
“Did I do know the historical past behind it? No. Did I do know the game science behind it or methods to prepare a Formulation One driver? No. So 2018 was a variety of work.”
The educational course of entailed choosing the brains of these round him within the F1 paddock, in addition to scouring Google Scholar for any out there info on the bodily calls for of driving headlong round a monitor for 2 hours.
However Italiano’s obligations do not cease with drawing up health periods for the 32-year-old Ricciardo.
An F1 efficiency coach is charged with making certain their driver is in prime bodily and psychological situation initially of each race — one thing which means the pair spend 250 days of the 12 months collectively.
Italiano takes accountability for massages, vitamin, sleep, jet lag, mindfulness and something in between to make sure race weekends run easily.
“It might be ensuring his laundry is getting accomplished, and even ensuring he is having breakfast on time, or simply cleansing up the room and ensuring his backpack is packed and able to go,” explains Italiano.
“Little issues like that basically add up […] giving him a schedule in order that he does not need to suppose […] type of operating his week so he can simply deal with racing.”
Neck energy
The pair at the moment are coming off the again of a three-month preseason in preparation for the primary race of the season in Bahrain on Sunday.
Italiano has labored on constructing Ricciardo’s neck energy — a vital requirement for drivers to face up to the G-force of tackling sharp corners at excessive pace.
And because the sport advances, engines get greater and automobiles get sooner, putting extra demand on a driver’s physique every year, in response to Italiano.
“It is not about simply hitting the markers with their neck energy; yearly, they should hit PBs [personal bests] just about,” he says.
“A typical nook on an F1 course would possibly see drivers combating towards 4 to 5 G, which is about pulling roughly 35 kilos [77 pounds] in your neck — fairly an enormous load.
“You would possibly suppose, ‘Okay, it is a nook, it solely lasts for one to 2 seconds.’ However you are doing it for 2 hours, so it could possibly add up shortly.”
In an try and construct Ricciardo’s neck energy, Italiano says he is studied different sports activities just like the NFL, boxing and rugby for inspiration, whereas he additionally carries a neck harness with him all through the season for flexion and extension workout routines.
“These guys are beneath stress within the physique just about for 2 hours. They’re combating the automotive and the vibrations of the automotive, the resistance of the automotive,” says Italiano.
Which means whole-body energy and cardiovascular health develop into an essential issue, too.
“These guys are in fire-resistant fits, they do not breathe,” Italiano continues. “Abruptly, thermoregulation of the physique — the flexibility for the physique to chill down — is closely restricted.
“They’re low to the bottom, the bitumen is so scorching; they have an engine behind them, which is bringing in additional warmth.
“The flexibility to chill down is simply non-existent […] You begin turning into dehydrated, you begin missing fluids, you begin to fatigue.
“And for those who begin to fatigue, your response instances begin to hinder. That begins taking place, you begin shedding one or two tenths per lap in a Formulation One race. It might be the distinction between a podium and ending within the high 10.”
Within the fitness center throughout preseason, Italiano has tasked Ricciardo with cardio periods (operating, rowing and biking), energy workout routines (deadlifts, squatting and bench-press) and core stability coaching.
“We additionally emphasize coaching on the posterior chain [muscles on the backside of the body] as a result of a variety of the braking hundreds — once they’re smashing that brake with their left foot — goes by the calves, hamstrings and glutes,” says Italiano.
Psychological preparation
Italiano’s affect extends to Ricciardo’s weight loss program throughout race weekends — assembly with the McLaren workforce chef to supply steering on mealtimes, recipes and portion sizes — adapting to scorching climates and excessive altitudes, and aiding with restoration from journey and jet lag.
“We employed a little bit of a jet lag guru and we even have a jet lag app, which helps so much with caffeine timing, mild publicity, adapting to the time zone,” he says.
“The meal timing on a flight is an enormous one, and likewise train timing once you land can assist with sleep and getting on the fitting time zone. There are a variety of components that have an effect on jet lag. It was the primary factor we actually, actually tried to hone down on.”
Then there’s additionally psychological preparation throughout a race weekend.
“One thing we discuss so much about is attending to that move state on a Sunday,” says Italiano. “The Wednesday or Thursday, it is get all the things off your chest day, the place it is like: ‘OK, mate, what’s bugging you? What’s in your thoughts?’ Simply get it off your chest.
“Qualifying, I prefer to get Daniel in a really calming frame of mind as a result of qualifying is about simply perfecting the one lap. And Daniel, he performs very nicely in a relaxed state for qualifying.
“Whereas race, we would like him at an depth degree of about seven out of 10, we do not need him too intense as a result of being too fired up can truly make your reactions worse for those who’re too fired up.”
Come Sunday when the checkered flag falls initially of the Bahrain Grand Prix, Italiano will probably be hoping that his painstaking preparation — from calf energy to cardio, squats to sleep schedules — bears fruit.
Ricciardo, who positioned eighth within the driver standings final season, examined optimistic for Covid-19 final week, however has recovered in time to compete on this weekend’s race.
However F1 stays the precedence. He anticipates there will probably be loads of nerves because the season will get underway on Sunday, however pleasure and curiosity, too.
“There is a component of uncertainty and unknown,” says Italiano, “not figuring out which groups have made positive factors and which groups are a step behind. I discover it fairly intriguing.”
These feelings are at all times accompanied by a way of delight when he watches Ricciardo take to the racetrack.
“It has been a large inspiration to see a man from the identical metropolis as me on the world stage,” says Italiano. “It is simply inspiring to be with him after which additionally serving to him. It provides me perception as a coach as nicely.”
