Beyond Talent: Race Car Driver Mayer Deonarine On The Mindset and Disciplines of Professional Athletes
An Interview With Chad Silverstein
Taking care of my body is my top priority. I make sure that, first and foremost, I’m getting my sleep.. I have a strict sleep schedule of going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time.
In the world of sports, talent is abundant but individual greatness is defined by a unique mindset and steadfast discipline. In this series, we go one-on-one with athletes who raise the bar not just in skill, but in mental preparation and routine discipline. We’ll explore their thought processes and uncover the reasoning behind the specific habits that give them an edge. Prepare for a deep dive that could reshape how you approach discipline and mental resilience. This isn’t just about the game; it’s a blueprint for achieving peak performance in life. I had the honor of interviewing Mayer Deonarine.
Mayer Deonarine is a 15-year-old phenom who started go-karting at the age of 9, and moving up to cars at the age of 14. Mayer progressed quickly in his career, having made history in the Radical Cup North American as the youngest driver to enter a series, podium, and win. Dominating at the 2024 Honda Dealers Toronto Indy, taking all three victories, Mayer is a rising star.
Thanks for being part of this series. Let’s jump in and focus on your early years. Can you share who was your biggest influence when you were young and provide specific examples of what you learned from them that helped shape who you’ve become and how you live your life today?
My biggest role model is Lewis Hamilton. He’s always been a very down-to-earth and humble human being despite his success and wealth. You never hear about him in the news, but you always see how much he loves his family, he’s a fashion icon, and he never gives up. He started a charity, Mission 44, whose mission is to “empower young people to overcome social injustice and succeed,” and he came up like me, a regular kid. Through racing, by going through the ups and downs of things I can and cannot control, I have an opportunity to show youth that there is always room to dream and inspire.
Staying on the topic of influence, who has been your biggest catalyst more recently and what can you share that you’ve learned from them that led you to making changes in your life?
My parents are definitely the biggest catalyst in my life, not only when I started in Motorsports, but they continue to support and guide me every day. My dad constantly helps me with my media training, interviewing skills, and networking skills. My mom ensures that I am staying focused on my school studies while at the track — she keeps me fed, she keeps me calm, and she’s always there after the race waiting for me, no matter the outcome. She figured out basic mechanic skills because we couldn’t afford someone to help us, and oftentimes she worked on the karts by herself while my dad was at work. She lifts and loads the karts, pushes us to the grid, sets up the karts, and changes tires. It’s amazing because she’s literally one of a handful of moms at the track.
When other karters and mechanics see us walking to the grid they don’t give us a second look, but when I come off track after a win, they are amazed. She even sliced her hand open once at the track and didn’t stop, she went to the hospital a couple of days later after our competition, and luckily they were able to stitch her hand. She supports me in everything that we do, and I admire her. My parents have always pushed me to do the best that I can at anything I am tasked with. They always drive me to work hard and move past barriers that I encounter, always striving towards my own goals and objectives.
It’s not really a person that I have learned from but more of a mindset instilled in me. The will to win pushes me harder than any person can. It’s always a battle within myself to be better than I was yesterday. I know that I can be better than yesterday, but I have to remain focused and dedicated, which drives my will to win.
Resilience is a hallmark of high performers, especially in the world of athletics. Could you share the hardest thing you experienced as an athlete, how you dealt with it, what you learned, and the overall impact it’s had in your life?
Resilience is ever-present because you are dealing with personal issues sometimes along with your track days. You have to be able to pick yourself up at a moment’s notice in order to go on to the next race with a clear mind to win. You don’t have the luxury to ruminate about the last race, you only have time to learn, adapt, and move on. The hardest part of racing is mentally bouncing back because you can train all week for that final race and have a mechanical issue that takes you out of the race or does not allow you to even start. You can start driving and be out suddenly because of an incident on the first lap, and it’s not your fault — but now you can’t continue. Bouncing back from this is extremely hard because of the disappointment you feel in that moment but you need to move on in order to persevere through your next races.
One of the most fun but difficult things about driving is the different weather conditions. In karting, I’d be soaked in the rain, and going 100km without being able to see my hand in front of my face, let alone another kart, that was insane to me. But on one of three first trips in a race car, I had to drive through torrential downpours over 200km, which made my karting days feel easy!
I’ve not always been able to afford the best or new equipment, and more times than not, I’ve driven on tires that I have had to pull out of the dumpster because my parents couldn’t afford new ones, or at Toronto Indy when I used a rented 2017 Radical when everyone else had a new one. I never give up, and I am always grateful to be in the position I am in. I know that I’ll be a force when I have the opportunity to own top gear because I already know how to make it work when it is used.
Can you share the single most significant sports moment or achievement from your career and provide some context around why it’s your most significant highlight?
By far, the 2024 Honda Dealers Toronto Indy is the most memorable moment for me. I always wanted to race at the Toronto Indy ever since I watched it live when I was younger, maybe about 6 or 7 years old. As I grew up and started racing cars, participating in this race was my dream. I didn’t think that I would be able to race because of multiple issues. My team had setbacks; my engine and a 1340cc (which is the power of the engine ) blew up and were hard to replace at the last minute. I had to change cars to an older model with everything worn down on it. Knowing these challenges, I just put my head down and swore that I was going to win, and I did just that and more. Not only did I win my three races, but I also got the fastest lap record in multiple races, beating many of the faster and more experienced drivers. It was the best weekend.
You’re clearly driven by a specific set of disciplines that guide you. Can you share your top five that you personally prioritize and how they influence your daily routine?
1. Taking care of my body is my top priority. I make sure that, first and foremost, I’m getting my sleep.. I have a strict sleep schedule of going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time.
2. Eating is another priority because you need to fuel the body properly in order for it to run as strong as possible. I eat lots of protein, veggies, and fruit. I try to make every meal as balanced as possible. Water is vital, as I can lose up to 5 lbs per race in the series that I’m racing now, meaning I have to stay hydrated at all times, usually drinking up to 5 liters per day. Monitoring my hydration levels is super important.
3. Physical training is another element. People don’t realize the exertion that drivers put their bodies through during a race. When I train, I max myself out not in weight but in stamina because when we are racing we have to maintain a high level of physicality with no breaks. If you make a mistake or you can’t handle the pressure of the car, you can really hurt yourself and others so I do work out every day.
4. Training in alternate settings — I also prioritize my simulator training because you can’t always be at the track, or if you want to learn a new track, the simulator is the second best way (outside of actually driving the track) to do this. I train for about 12 hours at a simulator facility (HIP Motorsports), and I train at home for around 20+ hours a week. When a race is coming up, I also have a driver coach who facilitates multiple sessions to ramp up my skills.
5. While there are no days off, I try to spend as much time as I can with my brother and my family. I like the family environment because it keeps me grounded and focused.
Nobody’s perfect. Share an instance where taking on too much served as a critical lesson that you learned from. What happened and how did you respond?
I’m still trying to figure this out, as I always have lots on my plate. I have been balancing school, and until recently, I have always been involved in trying to secure sponsorship opportunities alongside my dad. It is a lot to think about, knowing that if you can’t secure sponsorship or funding, you can’t race. Everything would be over and I have come close to that scenario before, it weighs a lot on me.
I’m pretty level-headed in general, and I try to manage my time well. There’s always something going on, and I’ve been working hard for the last couple of years to get to where I want to be in racing. When I think too much about the business side of racing, it can be overwhelming. There are times when I can’t sleep knowing the sacrifices that my parents are making with multiple jobs and overtime shifts, and I know that’s because of me and my racing. When my mind starts to spiral I go to the gym, hop on my simulator, or visit with my grandparents. These things help me keep my mental health in balance, and regain perspective.
Discipline can be a solo endeavor, but successful people tend to “borrow” other people’s disciplines. Can you share some specific examples of some of your disciplines that your teammates have picked up and the difference it made for them?
Naturally, I think that people tend to be influenced by me because my work ethic is extremely high. I always talk to everyone who works at the track when I see them, from the service crews to the cleaning team, because without them, none of this is possible. Others have come to expect that I will take the time to talk to as many people as I can, and they follow suit.
I am 100% focused on winning and crafting my skills, and I think others tend to gravitate towards that energy and try to improve their own performance through observing and asking me questions. Whether it is driver coaching or developing interviewing skills, people do seem to pick up some of my habits and traits in order to succeed at their own work.
Measuring discipline can be tricky. How do you track or assess how your discipline impacts your results? Do you track or keep a scorecard of any of your daily habits or disciplines?
There are a couple of things that I do regularly. My disciplines have turned into daily habits and they’ve become second nature. I also write down my strengths, weaknesses, pros and cons of every race that I compete in (and rewatch in car footage), in order to improve for the next race. At the gym, I keep a log of what I am doing in terms of reps and weights and I have a goal to always improve.
Ever found yourself at a crossroads, where your commitment to discipline clashed with other realities in your life, like team dynamics or short-term goals? How did you handle it and what was the outcome?
There are definitely a lot of sacrifices that you have to make as an athlete and to be successful in whatever sport you participate in but you need to make a choice and I can honestly say that I choose racing every time. This also means that my family is sacrificing a lot as well. Their time and dedication to my success take them away from their activities and lives. Even though I have short-term and long-term goals, I understand that there are certain things that I can or won’t be able to do as a 15-year-old. I opted out of my graduation and I’m ok with that, it is a part of my journey. I don’t have friends and I will miss out on everything that a regular kid does but I’m also ok with that. My path and focus are racing and only racing.
Reflecting on your athletic journey, what’s one thing you would go back and do differently if given the chance?
Nothing that I can think of. I am proud of what I have accomplished with what resources I have and what little time I’ve been involved in the sport. I look forward to what is ahead for me in the coming years.
When it comes to pursuing the highest level in your sport, what valuable advice could you give someone that you wish someone would have told you?
There are a lot of people who have commented on how I would never make it in Motorsports because of the cost or my skills but I do have one person that I look up to and that is Lewis Hamilton. Lewis came from nothing, sleeping on his dad’s sofa while his parents worked multiple jobs to keep him in the sport and that is similar to my experience. My parents work endlessly to support me. I have learned that thinking outside the box and overcoming fear and challenges will allow you to progress in your passion and drive your goals. Don’t engage in the negative talk, focus on getting creative to overcome barriers, and believe that you can do exactly what you set your mind to do.
If we were sitting together two years from now, looking back at the past 24 months, what specifically has to happen for you personally and professionally, for you to be happy with your results?
In two years from now, I have a goal to be in the FIA, Formula 3 series, winning races. I also want to win the GB4 championship by that time as well as the G3 championship.
Finally, where can fans and fellow athletes follow your journey of talent and discipline?
You can follow me @mayerdeonarine on Instagram and www.mayerdeonarine.com.
About the Interviewer: Chad Silverstein is a seasoned entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience as a Founder and CEO. While attending Ohio State University, he launched his first company, Choice Recovery, Inc., a nationally recognized healthcare collection agency — twice ranked the #1 workplace in Ohio. In 2013, he founded [re]start, helping thousands of people find meaningful career opportunities. After selling both companies, Chad shifted his focus to his true passion — leadership. Today, he coaches founders and CEOs at Built to Lead, advises Authority Magazine’s Thought Leader Incubator, and launched and leads an online leadership development community which can be downloaded for free for iOS and Android.
Beyond Talent: Race Car Driver Mayer Deonarine On The Mindset and Disciplines of Professional… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.