Next Level Pros Episode #126: "Race Car Driver Questions God" – Detailed Summary

Release Date: October 4, 2024
Host: Chris Lee
Guest: Lucas Degrassi, Champion of Formula E

Introduction

In Episode #126 of Next Level Pros, host Chris Lee welcomes Lucas Degrassi, renowned as the godfather and champion of Formula E (F1E). The conversation delves deep into Lucas's illustrious racing career, personal life challenges, professional struggles, and profound reflections on spirituality and belief.

Guest Background

Chris Lee introduces Lucas Degrassi by highlighting his significant contributions to the racing world:

"[00:34] A: All right. Degrassi. So Lucas is literally the godfather. He is the champion of F1E."

Lucas shares his extensive experience in racing:

"[01:11] B: Thanks, Chris. Thank you very much for hosting me. Yeah, I've raced my whole life, since I was seven years old. I raced in Formula One back in 2010, then in Long endurance races, and I helped to create Formula E, which is Formula one electric..."

At 40 years old, Lucas has been racing professionally for two decades, starting from a young age and building a formidable presence in both Formula One and Formula E circuits.

Formula E and Racing Career

Lucas elaborates on his pivotal role in the inception of Formula E:

"[01:31] B: I was the first person to join [the founder] to do it. And it was July 2012."

Chris reflects on the foresight required to establish an electric racing circuit well before the electric vehicle boom:

"[01:50] A: ...the fact that there was a race circuit that was founded 12 years ago in the electric, that's just kind of mind boggling for me."

Lucas discusses the challenges faced during Formula E's early days, particularly skepticism about electric vehicles' future:

"[02:21] B: ...nobody really believed that electric would be a big part of the future... The technology will evolve to towards more electrification of the fleet."

Personal Life Challenges

Despite outward success, Lucas candidly shares his personal struggles:

"[05:05] B: ...my personal life, I'm a young parent. I have two young kids... Traveling a lot for racing means I'm away from them, which puts a lot of stress on the family."

He also touches upon the emotional toll of being distant from his extended family in Brazil:

"[06:00] B: ...I missed them a lot. That puts a lot of stress in the family... I've been away for so many years, and I missed the contact with my brothers, with my family."

Professional Struggles and Career Transition

Lucas opens up about his recent professional challenges, highlighting a tough period in his racing career:

"[05:05] B: ...last year was the worst year of my career. The car... compromised a lot of my career. I struggled a lot to get the cars competitive."

He discusses his decision to switch teams and the impact it has had on his performance:

"[07:14] A: ...you could never be happy along the way all the time... Tell me more about... what's the next move for you that's going to help you get back on that trajectory where you feel fulfilled again."

Lucas reflects on the nature of happiness in professional sports:

"[08:44] B: ...in professional sports, being happy could be an enemy of performance. It's when you're happy means that you're satisfied... I have to be sad again in a way that I'm trying to figure out where I can get better."

As he approaches the later stages of his racing career, Lucas contemplates his future beyond driving:

"[11:30] B: ...preparing my transition already in a way to understand, do I become a team principal in a team? Do I shift completely and go to Brazilian politics? I don't know yet."

Education and Future Plans

Despite his successful racing career, Lucas is pursuing further education to prepare for life beyond the track:

"[12:44] A: ...you are attending Harvard Business School, which is clearly an indication of like, you're still trying to learn, you're still trying to improve."

Lucas explains his motivation for attending Harvard Business School:

"[13:09] B: Trying to be a better person. Trying to improve myself... I felt that I could learn different businesses, different methodologies, different ways to lead and to understand a team... accelerate my transition to this next stage of my life."

Spirituality and Belief Discussion

A significant portion of the episode delves into Lucas's views on spirituality and belief in God. Raised in a Catholic household, Lucas shares his evolving perspective:

"[19:28] B: I was raised in a Catholic house and I was married in church... The more I study and the more I see life and the more I see how hard life is... it had the effect of getting away from religion."

He articulates his skepticism towards traditional religious beliefs, especially in light of global suffering:

"[20:19] B: ...there is some force that allows our universe to create life and to create consciousness, which is a deep mystery to me."

Chris offers his contrasting viewpoint, intertwining belief in God with the scientific understanding of miracles:

"[23:16] A: ...I believe that science is the power of God... I think God is not found in the event, but God is found in the response."

Lucas reflects on the challenges of balancing scientific inquiry with personal spirituality:

"[27:55] B: ...science is really the question of saying I don't know. So which is the question I raise. I don't know about God. Let's try to figure it out."

Coping with Doubts and Mental Struggles

The discussion transitions to mental challenges and coping mechanisms. Lucas acknowledges grappling with imposter syndrome and the pressures of aging in a physically demanding sport:

"[15:18] B: Definitely the imposter syndrome is real. ... How do I keep as healthy as possible at optimum cognition and physical performance... especially as I turn 40."

He also touches upon family responsibilities, particularly concerning his brother with autism:

"[16:13] B: ...I have a brother which has some form of autism... I need to help more. ... always something that every time I have a bad race, I'm like, is this worth it?"

Chris and Lucas discuss strategies for managing these internal struggles, emphasizing pragmatism and continuous self-improvement.

Embracing Vulnerability and Humanity

Towards the episode's conclusion, Chris commends Lucas for his openness and vulnerability, highlighting the importance of authenticity:

"[35:07] A: ...we have to always be open because when, if we're unwilling to be open around new ideas or improvements to be made, we will either maintain or decline... Thank you for being open and sharing those things."

Lucas appreciates the conversation's depth and the platform's focus on genuine human experiences:

"[37:20] B: ...thank you for occupying a piece of real estate in my mind... I think a lot of people in social media, they see just the surface. They don't see the inside. They don't see the struggles."

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with mutual appreciation and reflections on the journey of success as an ongoing trajectory rather than a fixed destination. Both Chris and Lucas underscore the importance of continuous growth, humility, and openness to new knowledge.

"[38:35] A: ...success is a trajectory. It is never a destination. We are all looking to level up, get it to the next level... Until next time."

Notable Quotes

• Chris Lee:

  • "[00:00] A: One of our core principles of leadership that we teach entrepreneurs is a willingness to be wrong or essentially a skeptic of your own feelings."
  • "[07:14] A: ...happiness and success aren't destinations. Right. They're trajectories that we're on."
  • "[23:56] A: ...God is the one that actually has created the laws of physics."

• Lucas Degrassi:

  • "[08:44] B: ...in professional sports, being happy could be an enemy of performance."
  • "[15:18] B: Definitely the imposter syndrome is real."
  • "[19:28] B: ...the more I study and the more I see life and the more I see how hard life is... it had the effect of getting away from religion."

Connect with Lucas Degrassi

Lucas encourages listeners to follow him on social media for insights into his racing career and personal updates:

"[37:20] B: I post mostly about racing and different Topics, both on LinkedIn, Twitter, or X now, and Instagram. It's Lucas Degrassi."

This episode of Next Level Pros offers a profound look into the multifaceted life of a professional race car driver, blending high-octane racing insights with heartfelt personal reflections and philosophical musings on faith and existence.