We all make mistakes. The question is: do you learn from them or just keep driving?
Every driver makes mistakes.
The difference between fast drivers and everyone else is not talent — it’s what happens after the mistake.
Some drivers improve year after year.
Others stay stuck, always missing 3–4–5 tenths… sometimes a full second.
Because many drivers are just driving, not working.
Driving is not the same as improving
That’s perfectly fine — if your goal is fun.
But then race day comes, and suddenly:
“I’m missing a few tenths again…”
“Why am I still so far from the leaders?”
Because between practice and the race, no real work was done.
- session analysis
- onboard review
- mistake breakdown
- attention to coach feedback
- effort to understand where time is lost
How lap time is actually built
Fast drivers don’t have magic.
They accumulate marginal gains.
Not one big secret —
but dozens of tiny details every lap:
- slightly better load on the front
- a few centimeters closer to the apex
- earlier wheel straightening
- cleaner throttle application
Each one is almost invisible.
Often too small for data.
The key difference:
they notice what worked — and repeat it every lap.
Most drivers occasionally do a great lap…
but don’t know why it was great.
Mistakes are where lap time lives
Every time I analyze my onboard, I find mistakes.
Every time.
While driving, I can feel when something is off:
And if you can feel it —
why wait days or weeks to fix it?
You can change it on the next lap.
Progress isn’t a breakthrough.
It’s removing what prevents you from driving as well as you already can.
Micro-mistakes decide everything
When I follow drivers or analyze their videos, I see the same pattern:
The most common big mistake:
releasing the brake too early → rushing entry → paying for it on exit
- aggressive exit
- holding steering too long
- leaning the body inside
- pinching the kart
- missing the apex by inches
- aggressive throttle
- changing line where you should stay straight
- vision...you like not far away...but this the other long story..
Each one is small.
Together — tenths and seconds.
Why this is hard
Because your brain is overloaded.
—you already have everything needed to improve.
How this turns into results
The process is simple — and boring:
- Watch your onboard
- Identify mistakes honestly
- Write them down
- Compare with a faster driver
- Use data when video isn’t enough
This is how marginal gains accumulate:
Final thought
You can drive for years and not improve.
Or you can gain tenths season after season — not by luck, but by thinking and working.
Fast drivers aren’t special.
They just don’t let things slide.
That’s why, on race day, they have enough pace...
