What happens when the spotlight fades? In this new episode of "Inside the Helmet," Riccardo Ianniello invites us into his daily life, revealing his routines and personal moments. From training management to pre-race rituals, with candid confessions and moments of growth along the way.

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Riccardo, tell us how a typical day starts for you. Do you have a specific morning routine?

My days have structure, even if I'm not super strict with the times. I prefer to train in the afternoon, making the most of the warmer hours, so I organize my mornings accordingly and include some study time as well.

I usually wake up around 8 or 8:30, have a relaxed breakfast, and dedicate the morning to more "mental" work: track studies, data analysis, and simulator sessions if needed. After my physical training in the afternoon, I always spend a couple of hours on the simulator, that has become my most consistent routine. I adapt the daily details depending on school commitments, but the overall structure remains the same.

How important is physical training in a GT driver's life? What kind of preparation do you do daily?

Physical training is essential for a GT driver. Cardio is the foundation because in the car, temperatures can go over 60 degrees Celsius, and you need to stay focused throughout the race.

Cardio helps you handle the extreme heat and maintain mental clarity even when your body is under stress. If you're not fit, after ten minutes you start to lose focus and for a driver, that means losing precious seconds with every lap.

Everyone talks about athletes' special diets. What does a professional driver eat for breakfast?

I started working with a nutritionist who completely changed my approach to food. It's not just breakfast, my entire daily diet is structured to optimize performance.

On regular days, I usually have milk with 50 grams of cereal for breakfast, and a mid-morning snack to keep my energy steady. During race weekends, I prefer something more substantial: eggs and bacon. It might sound heavy, but it gives me the right energy without weighing me down.

The nutritionist explained that a driver's diet must consider race times, duration, temperatures, it's not just about "eating healthy," it's about eating strategically to be at your best at the right moment.

Sim racing is essential in motorsport today. How do you organize your virtual training sessions?

As I said, after physical training I usually do simulator work two to three times a week. It's especially useful for learning new tracks when you can't do physical tests.

You can try different setups, study racing lines, understand braking points, without the risk of damaging the car. Of course, it doesn't replace the real feel of the track, but it helps you arrive at race weekends much better prepared.

How does your mindset change in the days leading up to a race weekend?

Tension always builds as the race approaches, that's inevitable. But I'm learning to manage it better and stay calm once I'm in the car. It's a constant learning process.

Experience teaches you that a bit of tension is normal, even helpful. The key is not letting it turn into anxiety that blocks you. I'm working a lot on the mental side because it truly makes a difference on track.

Many athletes have specific rituals the night before a race. How do you mentally prepare?

I don't have strict rituals, but I'm quite superstitious! One thing I always do is never talk about how the race might go the next day.

I prefer to focus on the present, on what I need to do technically, without projecting too much into the final result. It's a mental protection that helps me stay calm.

How much time do you dedicate to track study before each round?

I mostly use my home simulator and onboard videos that the engineers give me. That's my main preparation before approaching a new track or one I don't know well.

The onboard videos are invaluable because you see exactly how other drivers tackle corners, where they brake, how they exit chicanes. Combined with simulator sessions, you arrive at the track with a solid foundation.

When you're not racing, how do you like to spend your free time?

When I have free time, besides training, I like to hang out with friends or go to the beach and have fun. I try to disconnect completely from racing and just do regular things like any other guy my age.

It's important to have a balanced life. Racing is my passion and my job, but I also need moments to relax and recharge.

Be honest — have you ever used the fact that you're a driver to impress someone?

laughs... No, I've never used being a driver to hit on girls. I prefer people to get to know me for who I am as a person, not for what I do.

I believe that if you need to "sell yourself" by talking about your job, maybe it's not the right person. I like when people discover this part of me gradually, not as the first thing they know about me.

Nowadays, social media is a big part of any athlete's life. How much time do you spend on Instagram and TikTok?

I'm not a big fan of using social media. I know it's very important nowadays, especially for athletes, but I don't spend much time on it. I prefer to focus on what I actually do rather than constantly showing it online.

Of course, I share important moments, races, results, some behind-the-scenes content, but without overdoing it. I'm not the type to post my breakfast or what I'm doing every hour of the day.

Besides racing, do you have other hobbies or passions you enjoy?

Like I mentioned, besides hanging out with friends, I really love video games. It's a way to relax and have fun, especially during breaks from racing.

Video games also help keep my reflexes sharp, especially driving games. Obviously it's not the same as driving a real car, but for hand-eye coordination and reaction times, they're really useful.

Everyone makes mistakes. What's the most creative excuse you've ever used to justify one on track?

laughs... When I was younger in karting, I always used to blame the engine — like I think every kid does! "It's not my fault, the engine wasn't pulling!" was the classic excuse.

Now that I've grown up, I always acknowledge my mistakes. When I make one, I try to understand the reason why I made it, whether it was distraction, pushing too hard, or a technical error. It's the only real way to improve.

Have you ever felt so discouraged that you thought, "Maybe I should've chosen football instead of racing"?

Yes, I had a moment where I wanted to stop racing, but not to switch to football, I never really liked that sport. It was during a difficult period when everything seemed to go wrong.

But those were more general doubts about the future, not thoughts about changing sports. In the end, I realized that these moments of crisis are part of the growth process. They make you appreciate what you do even more when things go well.

What's your physical and mental preparation process before getting into the car?

I always do a light warm-up — skipping rope and using reaction lights to train my reflexes. It looks like a game but it's really effective for getting the brain ready for speed. Then I quickly review everything I discussed with the engineer during the briefing.

It's important that both your body and mind are "switched on" at the right moment. You can't get into the car cold and expect to be at your best from the first lap. Those 10-15 minutes of preparation make the difference between being competitive from lap one or needing time to get into the rhythm.