Race day rush

When Sébastien Buemi was just 15 years old, he sat behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car for the first time. The Swiss national, who now competes in the esteemed Formula E for British racing team, Envision, is one of the most successful drivers in the series' history, having claimed many wins, fastest laps, points and poles. To this day, he proclaims that it is the rush he experiences behind the wheel that drives him forward. Here he shares a glimpse into race day...

5am
In Formula E, the day starts early! Everything takes place on one day, from free practise to qualifying, and then the race itself. Usually, I get up at 5am and go for a short gym session or run to wake up my mind and body.

6am
After an early breakfast at the hotel, which is usually just a short distance from the circuit, we go to the track. Here we have a briefing about FP1, our first free practise of the day, to discuss what we will test out, how we will run the session, what we hope to get out of it, and the best prep for qualifying later in the day.

7.30am
We have our free-practise session, where we review the data to try and improve the car and its performance where we can. We don't get to do many laps so it's important we use the simulator a lot beforehand, to really be up to speed and maximise the time we have on the track.

9.45am
Time to qualify! This is an hour-long session, depending on where you end up... If you're in the top eight racers, you reach the 'duals'. These are the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. If you make it to this stage, you fight for pole position on the grid. This format is different to Formula 1 and other races; you race another driver in each quarter and it's entertaining to watch!

12pm - 3pm
Over a simple and filling lunch such as pasta with chicken and avocado, we have the qualifying briefing. Afterwards, I spend half an hour meeting fans in front of the pit lane, signing autographs and exchanging updates out the race.

Following this, we hold a race briefing, which is where we discuss our strategy. This involves the engineers and crew, and centres around us optimising what we have and what we know in preparation for the race ahead.

We take part in a parade, usually in golf buggies or trucks, to greet fans and spectators on the grandstands. Generally, this is a slow lap of the track, and it is always amazing to see everyone.

After that, we go to the garage and I change into my fireproof underwear, helmet and race suit, before driving over to the grid. After final preparations are in place and the crew are ready, it's time to race...

The race
Go time! The race usually takes an hour - and anything can happen. You must be on your A-game and ready to fight. It's an amazing feeling being behind the wheel when racing. The speed, adrenaline, stress and excitement of competing with other drivers and pushing the car to the limit is a rush that can't be replicated. I'm not sure how I will find quite the same feeling when I stop racing!

After the race
No matter the result, we always debrief, reflect on the challenges, and fulfil media duties. If the race didn't go well, we have a detailed conversation around strategy and improvement and always try and move on as soon as possible. Looking forwards is so important, otherwise you risk damaging your confidence and spirit.

If it has been a good race, we celebrate and enjoy a well-earned drink at the end of the day! After an exhausting day, switching-off is necessary - until the next race, anyway...

Away from the wheel, Sébastien values the gift of time that The Hideaways Club affords his young family. They can enjoy the club's diverse portfolio of homes around the world knowing each holiday promises precious memories.