Max Chilton: "I spend as much time as possible in the garden"

Few people are enjoying lockdown – but racers must find it tough than most. 

You go from shooting round corners in a blur of pure adrenaline to lounging on the soda, pondering when to take your daily walk. 

However, Max Chilton is seeing the positives of the situation.    

Chilton has driven in Formula 1, GP2 and IndyCar – there's a reason we previously interviewed him for our Best Job in the World series. 

For the moment, his focus is on the kitchen rather than the track... 

My life...

What upcoming project(s) are you most excited about?

I have been planning to make a car vlog about the huge work I am currently having done to my Land Rover Defender.

I was planning on making one video to upload to my YouTube channel but now with Coronavirus and being unable to know when the car will be completed we are going to release the drop off very soon and then the collection when it’s completed.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment?

Winning multiple GP2 races from pole position to the chequered flag or leading the Indianapolis 500 for over 50 laps!

If you could change one thing about your career, what would it be?

I like to live my life with no regrets as there is no point in looking back. All I know is I have learnt from things I should have or shouldn’t have done which now makes my future easier going forward having the experience.

What do you hope to achieve that you haven’t yet?

Winning in INDYCAR and the LeMans 24 hours.

Outside of your family, who is / was your biggest inspiration?

John Surtees, he was a lovely man who luckily I got to know really well. He was a family man which I like and secondly he has a record I can’t even see being done again which is to be world champion on two wheels and four wheels.

Tell us something nobody knows about you…

I am a keen gardener and enjoy designing gardens sculptures! I spend as much time as I can in the garden as it a way of getting away from the loud and busy side of my job.

My lockdown

How are you finding lockdown?

Lockdown for my wife and I was looking quite easy as we love home time, but very sadly my father-in-law had a stroke and past away the week after the UK went into lockdown so we ended up spending a lot of time in hospital during the first couple of weeks of lockdown.

Best thing about lockdown?

People get time to unwind and focus of spending time with their families and hopefully improving their house or garden which people are experts at avoiding as they don’t have time for and now they do. I believe it has also seen the community feel that we have by supporting the NHS in multiple ways.

Worst thing about lockdown?

Not getting to see your family that don’t live with you and not socialising with friends. Also with my job I am used to travelling across the Atlantic on a fortnightly basis and so not travelling feels odd.

Top tip for surviving lockdown?

Learning to love your home and also learning to cook meals you wouldn’t usually choose.

I also believe I have seen people exercising who wouldn’t usually, which hopefully they will feel the benefits and the nation becomes healthier which reduces the strain on the NHS.

[Check out Shaun Stafford's home exercise tips here.]

If you could be locked down with one person, alive or dead, who would it be?

It would be my wife Chloë, she is my best friend and I spend 99% of my time with her anyway even when not in lockdown so I don’t like not being around her.

What are you most looking forward to doing once lockdown is over?

Getting back to racing and doing what I love. I also can’t wait to socialise with friends at restaurants again.