Max Chilton, the former Formula 1 driver and IndyCar competitor, recently shared insights into his life and passions beyond professional racing. Chilton, 35, who raced in F1 from 2013 to 2014 and competed in the IndyCar Series between 2016 and 2021, holds the hillclimb record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. He set the record in 2022, completing the course in 39.081 seconds behind the wheel of a McMurtry Spéirling.

Reflecting on what constitutes a perfect hour, Chilton described an ideal day combining his love for classic cars and boating. He envisions driving a 1973 Porsche 911 2.7 RS Touring through the Sussex countryside, stopping for a bacon roll at Goodwood, and then taking a Lotus Cortina around the racetrack. He would conclude the hour by heading to Chichester Marina to spend time on a boat, a pastime he also enjoys.

Although Chilton owns a 1973 Porsche, he expressed a preference for the classic Ferraris of the 1960s, admiring their elegant design, chrome detailing, and distinctive bodywork. He contrasted this with the 1970s, which he felt ushered in less appealing, more angular and plastic styling.

When asked about his routine, Chilton identifies as a morning person, rising at 6 a.m. to either run or walk his dog. He values the quiet of early mornings and the positive mindset that exercise before most people are awake brings.

Looking back fondly on his youth, Chilton often reflects on the mid-to-late 2000s, a period when he transitioned from karting to car racing. He recalls those years as a time of intense focus on his racing ambitions, supplemented by the camaraderie of sailing with friends from boarding school during long summer holidays.

If given the chance to spend an hour with any famous individual, Chilton singled out the Scottish F1 driver Jim Clark. He views Clark as the greatest driver of his era and would invite him to experience the unique downforce of the McMurtry Spéirling.

Chilton also shared personal anecdotes, including an incident from his last European go-kart race in 2006 where he broke a rib. He amusingly admitted to having taken the hotel pillow with him afterward because of its exceptional comfort during his injury, and he still has it.

On more personal notes, Chilton said the last time he cried was likely due to something especially endearing his two-year-old daughter, Rose, did. He also acknowledged regularly checking social media, managing multiple Instagram accounts dedicated to business, his home, and personal interests.

Golf is an activity Chilton wishes he had more time for, and he recounted being mistaken for reality TV personality Jamie Laing several years ago at a restaurant in Chelsea.

Offering advice to his younger self, Chilton would say: “Try not to panic, most things work out in the end, and there’ll be bigger things to worry about in the future.” Identifying as a natural worrier, he emphasized the importance of keeping perspective on challenges.

Finally, when asked what might be the key to reaching 100 years of age, Chilton credited his wife as the central reason for his longevity.