Video games, vegetarian chilli and racing down under: Getting to know the real Olli Caldwell

Campos Racing’s Olli Caldwell heads back to familiar sights next weekend, as Formula 2 returns to Barcelona – the home of the rookie’s first victory in Formula 3 last year.

We sat down with the Alpine junior to find out all about how he stays competitive away from the track, his must-see movies and living next to an F2 Champion.

WHERE DO YOU CONSIDER HOME?

“I grew up in Winchester, Hampshire in the UK. A long, long time ago, it used to be the very old capital city of the UK before London was. It's a big city and it's got a really big cathedral. It was great. I went to a small school, all my friends lived very close, so I really enjoyed it.” 

WHO INSPIRES YOU?

“Not my performance coach! I'm going to go with a racing driver - Lewis Hamilton. I think it's a pretty standard answer some people might say, but no one else has achieved what he has in the sport. I'm in the sport the same as him and I would love to achieve what he has.” 

HOW DO YOU RELAX AWAY FROM THE TRACK?

“I like to play tennis, paddle - which Europeans might know a bit more than English people and play computer games. 

“My favourite one is called Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Competitive game but it’s fun to take my mind off something. 

“I'm not the worst at tennis, but I'm not the best. In Europe, I try and play every time I come away because the weather is a bit better. In the UK, not as much as I would like, maybe once, twice a month.” 

WHO ARE YOUR FRIENDS ON THE GRID?

“I'd say Oscar (Piastri) is a very good friend. I lived just down the corridor from him, so I get on well with him. Who else do I know here? Robert (Shwartzman) of course being in PREMA, Dan Ticktum, pretty much all the people who live in England!” 

WHAT MEAL WOULD YOU COOK TO IMPRESS SOMEONE?

“I can't cook much…a vegetarian chilli I can cook quite well.”

IF YOU WEREN’T A DRIVER, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

“I studied business studies and economics, so probably something in that region – I barely passed my exams.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE?

“Any of the Marvel ones. I really like Thor: Ragnarok, that's probably my favourite.” 

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE MUSICAL ARTIST?

“Halsey, I just really like her songs.”

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A RACING DRIVER?

“The travel. I don't get to see as much of countries as I would like, but it's always cool to be able to jump on a plane pretty much every other weekend and see new places.” 

YOUR FAVOURITE RACING MEMORY?

“Quite recently was my first win in Barcelona in Formula 3. That was a big win for me, to be able to win in front of Formula 1, on the TV, on the Formula 1 podium.”

FAVOURITE PLACE YOU’VE EVER BEEN AND ONE PLACE YOU’D LIKE TO VISIT?

“Favorite place I've been is Australia. I raced in the Bathurst 12 Hours at the beginning of 2020, before the world went weird. I went to Sydney for two weeks. Amazing place, one of my favourite places I've ever been to.

“A place I want to visit is Hawaii. I was meant to go to Hawaii after Austin, but Austin got cancelled so I had to cancel my holiday there.”