Alex Yoong’s contribution to Malaysian motorsport continues beyond his Formula 1 career. In Esquire Malaysia’s “Alex Yoong: The Next Lap”, writer Adrianna Haris explores his transition from racing driver to founder and coach, helping others develop their potential.
Yoong became the first Malaysian to race in Formula 1 when he debuted with Minardi in 2001. His journey involved financial uncertainty and limited support experiences that give context to his work developing emerging drivers through Axle Sports.
For Yoong, performance depends on habits that athletes can develop: discipline, work ethic and time management.
“Every one of these attributes can be grown.”
- Alex Yoong, speaking to Esquire Malaysia
Technology now plays a practical role in that development. Through sim racing, Yoong can assess drivers, compare lap data and identify promising talent at a lower cost than real-world track sessions. As the feature explains, simulators provide both a training environment and a route to discovering people who might otherwise struggle to access motorsport.
Viewed through a business and technology lens, his approach offers a broader lesson: digital tools become valuable when they expand access and support meaningful learning. Experience still matters, but technology can help that experience reach more people.
Source: “Alex Yoong: The Next Lap” by Adrianna Haris, Esquire Malaysia, published October 1, 2026. The closing paragraph is an editorial interpretation.
Source: esquire.my
