‘What’s different? Everything’

His schedule is a mix of travel, test and moments of rest. ‘‘It’s sort of lonely. And gets tough with the thought.’’

Having already put in over 400 km at Silverstone — Jordan’s base — and then 314 laps during the Barcelona testing, Narain is thrilled with one fact; he’s completed full race distances. ‘‘Your confidence levels multiply every time you do it on the track’’, he says.

So what’s different after logging the distances? ‘‘Different? Everything’’, he says with an almost audible grin. Then he spews out data: the power of the car, driver aids, traction control and, most important, coping with the two-pedal adjustment. ‘‘It’s crazy even when you think about it, but then that’s the sport.’’

Given the schedules and pressure, the distressing process is vital to a driver’s wellbeing — as as crucial as sheer ability. ‘‘Every day is a long, weary day’’, he says, but he winds down with a four-hour daily routine of cardio, neck and upper-body exercise sessions.

The drivers are in the hands of physio-trainer-nutritionist Gerrard Gray, and a separate catering department. ‘‘That’s to take no chances at all.’’

What’s so special about this food? Narain talks of the right amount of carbohydrates with fitness and health being the key. While Narain talks of the pasta being regular on the daily menu, the Indian quite misses his rice. ‘‘I prefer that…and have ensured it is added to the menu.’’ No curries, though, ‘‘an upset tummy is the last thing even I would want’’.

What the distressing does is it helps him focus on his goals. The immediate objective being, finishing races. ‘‘That’s my priority, the points will probably come when they have to.’’