Tom Clark

Circadian Rhythm // High Performance // Stress Management // Mental resilience // Fatigue // Routine // Focus // Mental Models

Tom Clark was the indispensable right-hand man to F1 Racing Driver, Esteban Ocon, holding the pivotal role as his Head of Performance. With a wealth of expertise, Tom played a crucial role in supporting Esteban, offering insights into both his health and performance. 

His dedication took him to every Grand Prix on the F1 calendar, where he orchestrates pre- and mid-season training camps to fine-tune Esteban's capabilities, as well as managing all things physiological performance at the track on race day.

Rooted in a childhood passion for motorsport, Tom's journey began as a go-kart competitor, laying the foundation for a career deeply entrenched in the world of racing. Armed with an MSc in Sport and Exercise Science, he embarked on a trajectory that saw him working in a specialized private gym focusing on motorsport performance. It was here that he initiated professional connections with drivers across various motorsports, gradually making a name for himself.

Tom's ascent in the motorsport performance domain accelerated as he commenced working with racing athletes, attending competitions, and providing invaluable performance support and physical preparation advice. The turning point in his career came with an appointment at Hintsa Performance, a renowned performance consultancy in Formula 1.

Tom went onto dedicating 5 years to the high-stakes world of Formula 1, perfecting Esteban's peak performance. His focus extends beyond conventional realms, delving into cutting-edge research on human circadian rhythms and the challenges posed by jet lag and intense travel schedules in elite sports as part of his doctoral studies.

Tom's commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance is evident in his exploration of new areas for marginal gains, particularly in the intricate realm of jet lag and circadian rhythms. His groundbreaking research on jet lag is particularly pertinent in Formula 1 and other elite sports where extreme travel demands are the norm. 

Tom is at the forefront of identifying barriers specific to different sports, adeptly managing sleep schedules, and mitigating the impact of social jet lag—an aspect many professional sports organizations recognize as pivotal for achieving peak performance and gaining a competitive edge.

As a pivotal force in Esteban Ocon's journey and an influential figure in Formula 1, Tom Clark continues to redefine the boundaries of performance science.

What can business leaders learn from elite sport about sleep, travel, and sustained performance? Drawing on Tom’s experience as a performance coach in Formula 1 and a researcher in chronobiology, this keynote explores how understanding circadian rhythms and recovery is critical for performance and well-being in a 24/7 world.

During the talk you’ll learn how to:
• What the extreme travel demands of Formula 1 teach us about protecting and resetting the body clock
• How circadian rhythm misalignment silently erodes decision-making, mood, and health.
• Why sleep is not just recovery, but a core performance system.
• The practical strategies used in elite sport to optimise sleep, energy, and focus in high-pressure, high-tempo environments.

What can business leaders learn from the world’s fastest sport? Drawing on Tom’s experience as a performance coach in Formula 1, this keynote reveals how elite teams and athletes make decisions, manage pressure, and sustain excellence when the margins are microscopic and the stakes are enormous.

During the talk you’ll learn:
• How Formula 1 drivers prepare for and perform under extreme time pressure and scrutiny
• How small, consistent performance behaviours create big competitive advantages
• What travelling and performing year-round in the world’s most global sport teaches us about the human body
• The recovery toolbox: what the science actually supports, what really works, and what to ignore to feel and perform better