At 18, most teenagers are still figuring out who they are. Yevan David, meanwhile, is figuring out racing lines through Europe’s toughest circuits, carrying Sri Lanka’s flag at 250 km/h, and learning how to stay grounded in a life that rarely slows down.
Speaking to him is not like interviewing a typical young athlete. Yevan has the calmness of someone older, the self- awareness of someone who has already lived through multiple chapters, and the humility of someone who knows greatness comes from discipline, not noise. He is reflective, composed, occasionally cheeky, and refreshingly honest about the reality behind podium photos and highlight reels. This is the side of Yevan Sri Lankans rarely see not the driver in the helmet, but the young man inside it.
EARLY LIFE AND BEGINNINGS: A WORLD BUILT ON MOVEMENT
Born in London, raised in Singapore, living in Dubai, and deeply rooted in Sri Lanka Yevan’s identity is shaped by movement, cultures, and the grounding presence of family. “I think growing up in different countries made me mature faster,” he reflects. “Singapore gave me discipline. London gave me openness. Dubai gives me drive. And Sri Lanka… Sri Lanka is home. Christmases there keep me grounded.” His first spark for racing arrived early. As a baby, he famously refused to sleep unless he heard the sound of a car engine or the cartoon “The Car” playing in the background. Movement soothed him. Engines fascinated him. His first ever real racing moment wasn’t in Europe or the UAE it was in Bandaragama, Sri Lanka, in 2014.
“My first go kart session ended and all I wanted was to go again,” he recalls. “I was hooked.”
There wasn’t a dramatic turning point where he realized racing could become a career. Instead, it evolved naturally. “The more serious it got, the more I wanted it,” he says.
THE JOURNEY: TRACKS, CHALLENGES & THAT LAST LAP HIGH
Yevan has raced across Asia, Europe, Spain, and the UAE, but he quickly dismisses the idea that it’s glamorous. “It’s tough. New countries, new circuits, every place teaches you something different.” Simulators give him a rough feel of a new track, but adapting in real time is something he has mastered out of necessity. And when asked about the moment that meant the most, the answer comes instantly: Monza. Race 3. Taking the lead on the last lap. “That one felt special. Everything clicked.” So, what separates a good driver from a great one? “Mindset. Speed matters, but your mind decides everything.”
MINDSET AND MENTAL GAME: THE REAL BATTLE
Few sports compress pressure like racing. You sit still on the grid, heart pounding, aware that a single mistake could cost everything. But Yevan handles it with remarkable calm. He closes his eyes for a minute, breathes deeply, and clears his mind. “No superstitions. No tricks. Just a clean head before I drive.” When a race goes wrong, he allows himself to feel frustrated but only temporarily. “You process it, then the next day you get back to work. Use the loss as fuel.”
His calm confidence is contagious. There is a sense that he belongs on these circuits not just physically, but mentally. At only 18, Yevan carries a maturity that feels far beyond his age. He approaches racing with a clear, uncluttered mind, a deep respect for the craft, and an understanding that mindset often matters more than speed. He studies each track with intention, focuses on controlling the controllables, and has learned to quiet noise and pressure through disciplined mental routines. That ability to stay composed to breathe, reset, and “just drive” has become one of his greatest competitive strengths. Carrying Sri Lanka’s flag internationally doesn’t weigh him down, it drives him forward. “I’m grateful for the support. It motivates me.” If he could speak to his 12-year-old self? “Believe. Keep working. You’re going to make it.”
LIFE BEYOND THE TRACK: THE HUMAN BEHIND THE HELMET
Despite the intensity of his sport, Yevan lives a surprisingly balanced life off track. When he’s not racing, he’s playing basketball with his siblings, lounging in the pool, watching Netflix, or spending time with family and friends. His comfort food? Rice and chicken curry. Always. His pre-race playlist? Surprisingly mellow. “Calming music,” he shrugs. “Not hype.” If Netflix ever made a series about his life, he thinks a younger Jaden Smith would play him best, “He has the energy.” His all-time favorite car? The McLaren Senna. If he weren’t racing? “Probably basketball.”
THE FUTURE: ONE STEP AT A TIME
Yevan does not hide his ambition. His goals stretch far, but he approaches them with measured discipline. What’s next? “Improving. Climbing. One step at a time.”
Does he think about Formula 1? “Of course. But you earn each level. I’m focused on mastering the step I’m on.” He wants to use his platform to inspire young Sri Lankan racers, to show them that the path is possible. “I want to change how people see what Sri Lankans can do in motorsport.” His message to anyone chasing a dream that feels out of reach: “Do the work. Believe even when it’s hard. Dreams feel far until they’re suddenly close.”
FUN FACTS
• Favorite Car: McLaren Senna
• Dream Rival: Ayrton Senna
• Favorite Circuits: Imola, Portimao, Spa
• Wet race or dry? Wet
• Pre-race song: Only Girl by Rihanna
• Favorite emoji:
• If his race car had a name: Jordan
• Sim racing or real racing? Real
• Lucky charm: None but if he had one, it would be a specific pair of gloves
• What he’d miss most if he couldn’t race: Basketball
THE PART FANS USUALLY NEVER SEE
Behind the podiums and gear are very real, very human challenges. Constant travel means constant loneliness. “I spend a lot of time alone in airports and hotels,” he admits.
He thinks deeply when he’s alone, usually about how to work harder… and who might win the next F1 race. His biggest insecurity? “Being judged for my background or appearance.”
His biggest struggle, even now? “Imposter syndrome.” His hardest lesson? “Be yourself. Believe in yourself.” And yet, for all the challenges, he lights up when talking about fans, especially children. He treasures the moment two young brothers shyly approached him, holding caps and tiny notebooks for him to sign. “That moment inspired me,” he says.
THE CLOSING NOTE: A YOUNG MAN WITH AN OLD SOUL
Yevan David is not just a rising motorsport star, he is a reminder that greatness does not always roar. Sometimes it comes quietly: In early morning training sessions. In long flights spent alone. In the calm before lights out. In the discipline it takes to keep showing up.
He is proof that youth is not a limitation, that background is not a barrier, and that passion, when matched with mindset, can carve out extraordinary paths. Sri Lanka has found in him not only a racer but a symbol of possibility. And his story is only getting started.
RACE DAY RAPID ROUND: YEVAN AT A GLANCE
- Favorite car: McLaren Senna
- Dream rival: Ayrton Senna
- Preferred race conditions: Wet race
- Favourite circuits: Imola, Italy (for the flow and elevation), Portimão, Portugal (the most elevation changes), and Spa, Belgium (a childhood favourite)
- Car nickname: “Jordan”
- Last song before a race: Only Girl Rihanna
- Favorite emoji:
- Sim racing or real racing? Real racing
- Lucky charm: None but if he had one, it would be a specific pair of gloves
- What he’d miss most if racing ended tomorrow: Basketball
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