Force India Driver: 'My team are like a second family.'

Exclusive interview with Thedrszonef1:

Force India truck driver Dave Histley, enjoys a long winter break every year with his family. 

But, for the rest of the year he has to make do with travelling the world alongside some of the biggest names in Motorsport.

48-year old Dave admits the job does come with its perks, he said: "We travel to some of the most amazing countries around the world, I get to spend down time with some amazing people and every couple of weeks', we get to go racing.

Dave has been an avid Formula One fan since he was young, he told us: "I used to watch it with the old man, it's every young boys dream to race an F1 car."

"I never actually raced myself, but I followed every race, Nigel Mansell was my hero, I really enjoyed watching him."

Dave started driving trucks when he was 27 and couldn't believe his luck when he joined the F1 circus in 2003.

"I was really fortunate, a friend of mine phoned me and asked if I could drive a truck for him as a favour. It turned out to be a Toyota F1 car."

"From that weekend in Belgium, I knew that was the job that I wanted to do."

"I applied for a few jobs before finally getting one for the 2005 season and that's been me since then."

Dave, who grew up in Scotland now supports team member, Paul di Resta, but still hasn't had the chance to talk to him, "Of course, I support Paul because he is a great driver and a fellow Scot. I haven't managed to really have a chat with him yet but, he is a great guy who makes a lot of time for the guys in the team so I'm sure its a matter of when not if."

When asked what the toughest part of the job is, Dave replied: "Well, fitting everything back in is always a difficult job, but the hardest part is being away from my wife and two girls."

"Most of the other drivers' work throughout the year but when I'm back home I don't tend to work too many hours, I try to spend as much time with my family as I can."

"I really miss them when I'm away but you get to know a really great group of people who travel with the teams."

"I'd go as far as saying, they are like a second family when I'm away from home."

"The team are close-knit, we socialise a lot when we're travelling or after the circuit has closed, but over the weekend it is very busy and everyone has a job to do."

"Unfortunately not all of us drivers are able to watch every race, but, we get to see most of them."

Whilst in Europe, teams transport all of their own equipment which often means spending months away from home at any given time.

Each Formula 1 team take an average of 65 members of staff to each Grand Prix including, drivers, mechanics, engineers and caterers.

For the races outside of the continent, materials are either shipped or flown to their destination.

Dave said: "Even though the truck drivers' aren't required to drive we are sometimes required to pack the crates or return to the team base in preparation to bring any potential updates."

"It all depends really, my role has evolved over the last 10 years, now I feel more like part of the team than back then."

"Now, I feel like my role really helps the team, not just the driving, but preparing to travel with the latest updates to give the team every advantage we can."

Dave is currently at home during the three week break but is travelling to China to help the team prepare for the Grand Prix on 14th April.

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