Stay Tranquilo - Isabella Abreu: The First Cuban Driver on the Formula 1 Ladder 🇨🇺🏎️ | Stay Tranquilo

Episode Date: September 15, 2026

Isabella shares her journey from being born in Cuba, moving through Spain and eventually settling in Miami, to discovering her passion for racing and competing internationally in France.We dive into what it really takes to pursue a career in motorsports — from six-figure racing budgets and finding sponsors to building a personal brand, training mentally and physically, and refusing to quit when the odds are stacked against you.We also talk about Cuba’s forgotten motorsports history, the importance of representing Cuban culture on an international stage, Isabella’s goals for the next generation of Cuban drivers, and a major next step in her racing career that she’s getting ready to announce.In this episode:🏎️ Becoming the first Cuban driver on the Formula 1 ladder🇨🇺 Growing up between Cuba, Spain & Miami🏁 Racing internationally in France💰 The business and sponsorship side of motorsports🧠 Mindset, persistence & overcoming adversity📱 Why social media has become essential for modern athletes🔥 What’s next for Isabella’s racing career🌴 What it means to Stay TranquiloFollow Stay Tranquilo for more conversations with athletes, entrepreneurs, creators and people chasing something bigger.0:00 The Forgotten History of F1 in Cuba0:57 Meet the First Cuban-American F1 Driver2:08 The Unspoken Truth About Success5:42 From Havana to Miami: A Journey of Resilience12:28 Born with a Passion for Speed19:01 The Brutal Reality of Racing Economics28:03 The Power of Personal Branding for Athletes42:02 Inspiring the Next Generation of Cuban Drivers#StayTranquilo #IsabellaAbreu #Formula1 #F1 #Motorsports #CubanAmerican #Racing Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We actually had Formula One in Cuba. No way. Yeah, we had 1957. We had Formula One in El Malecone de La Hanna. Wow. And then we also had 1958. That's where the champion of that year was kidnapped by Fidel Castro. Yeah.

I'm doing a clothing brand about it, by the way. Oh, snap. I was doing a lot of research recently because I'm designing shirts for it. Okay. And it was an actual Malekone of Lavana. There was like 150,000 spectators. that year, Fidel Castro kidnapped the champion, the Formula One champion of that year.

He's Argentinian. Okay. And he, to make a statement, right? And then the next year, he canceled motorsports forever in the island until now. I mean, until I'm like over here trying to get back into it. All right. Welcome back to another episode of Stay Tranquilo. Today we have a very, very special guest, Isabella Aprejo, one of the,

I think the only Cuban-American F-1, right? Yeah, I became the first this year, yeah. That's, I mean, that in itself is impressive, you know, representing Los Cubanos out there. We were talking about it offline before we were recording, right? Like, that we're proud to be, you know, Cuban-American. Well, Cuban-American, right? You were born in Cuba. I was born here in America, but my grandparents are Cuban, so I am more of, like, Cuban-American.

You're a true Cuban-a-Cubano. or Cuban half and half. Half and half. Half like the cafe. Yeah, exactly, exactly. But I'm really excited to, one, obviously, share your story today. I think it's one of, of inspiration, you know, for a lot of young female Latinas in specific, but for anybody, right? You really have pursued a dream. And I think that's always something that being an entrepreneur, I generally really, really appreciate because it is a grind, right? And no one really sees the behind the scenes. So I'm excited to like hear your story and get deep into it. You just hit my heart, man. Yeah, I mean, it takes a lot and it's more about persistence and not giving up than anything else. You could be very dedicated, but there's people that

quit in the middle. So it's just about not quitting and continuing, even though everything's falling apart around you. 100%. It's funny. Like I, I, I've listened to a lot of podcasts myself. It's a big reason why I ended up starting one a couple years ago. But one thing that I've always found as like a common denominator amongst successful people, it doesn't matter what space they're in. It could be sports, business, entertainment, anything, right? A career, that path that they've pursued, the one common denominator they always go to is they just never quit.

Yeah. Because everybody hit some sort of level of adversity at some point, some challenge, something, right? Something along the way where they had doubt, uncertainty as to like, why am I even doing this? Like what is the reason behind going through this? And that's where most people quit, right? Exactly.

And that's where you have to tell yourself. And it's really difficult because it's, you know, you're doing psychology on yourself. You're basically like, don't quit, don't quit, don't quit. Or stop thinking negatively, just go. Everything's going to be okay. Yeah. That's where most people quit. And then you just have to get past that space.

100% where you're trying to just let go of it. Because it's easier to get a, custom to normal, right? And what you're striving for most times is bigger than normal. Absolutely. And that's what I have in my head every time I'm trying and working towards, you know, racing, you know, it's a really big thing to have all of my shoulders to have become the first Cuban driver to get to the Formula One ladder.

And representing an entire country, it's like you have to get away from that and focus solely on just continuing. 100%. Yeah. I mean, your identity is your identity and that goes with you no matter what you do, right? And you wear it proud and you wear it loud and as anybody should, right? But at the end of the day, like your craft is what's most important. And being able to be the best version of yourself at whatever your craft is and putting the time, effort, and energy into being the best at what you do.

1,000%. And if you don't work on yourself too, you're not going to be able to hold through the success part. right and you're going to go back to the normal so i've also like i don't know if it's happened to you but it's kind of how life works where it teaches you like assultando they like don't do this or you have to work on yourself go to the gym do this mentally so you can withhold what what you are actually wanting to strive for right absolutely i don't know if you understood that no no 100% i'm with you i'm with you i i completely agree and i think like you said i think that's why you've been successful in a still young career for yourself, right?

But you, that's what's, you're building the foundation, right? If you don't have the foundation built early on, you can get the success, but it can crumble just as fast away, right? And I think that's what some people don't realize is that instant gratification. And, you know, you see people get from here to here. Yeah, that's why. But they don't understand what happened, like in between. And that is really building the foundation to be able to sustain success at the top.

Like Scarface style, right? I love that. He worked all his life to become this big guy and then everything fell apart because he couldn't sustain that. Right. And yeah, I mean, it takes a lot. Absolutely. Absolutely. And I want to get more into, you know, mindset, everything that goes into it.

But I want to share your story. Tell us, you know, born in Cuba, right? You moved to Spain at a young age and then moved to Miami. So talk to me about like that whole journey. How much you remember, obviously? People ask me and my mom's like, how do you remember sharing things? because I remember everything. I don't know why.

I remember living in Cuba when I was little. I was like six. I was like five. I don't know. But I do. I mean, I remember almost everything. And then that big change,

I spent most of my childhood trying to get to the U.S. We went to Spain and we realized it wasn't for us. My dad did. So he's like, okay, the next step is going to the U.S.

We traveled all around Europe, getting our papers, right? We went to Paris. We went to Brussels. We went to, and then we went to Canada and we crossed the border. Holy cow. And we got to the U.S. And when you moved into the U.S., straight to Miami?

Straight to Miami. That's where we had family. And then slowly but surely, I became Miami and as hell. What, from your, I know you were young, but when you were in Cuba, like, what do you remember about Cuba at that time? Well, right, at that time, it wasn't as bad as now. Of course, yeah. I mean, it's obviously progressively, you know, from like that time that my grandparents.

were, you know, there to the time. Obviously, that you left, there was already a ton of change at that point. I mean, this is 2009-ish, 2008-ish. It wasn't, I mean, as difficult. It was right after, like, a lot of years after El-Pescial. So we had food, we had everything. I just remember having a lot of fun. That's awesome.

I mean, we went to Havana and there was El-Connie Island, which is an entire, it's like universal, but Cuban. Okay. That sounds interesting. And it's no longer there. It's stuff that it's slowly declined, stuff that, I mean, I saw when I was a baby, a little girl, and I loved and I want to go back to, and I can't. But, I mean, yeah, I just remember my family most and foremost. Which, I mean, that's like the thing everybody.

But I was sent every single year after that for the summer break. I was, I went to school in Miami. I would say I went to Sylvania Heights. That's where people went to by the way. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then I went to Carver, then mast. You went to Mass?

No, my cousin went to Mass. No, my cousin went to Mass, actually. You looked like a Columbus guy for some reason. Wow, nailed it. Are you serious? Damn. I didn't know we had to... It's the flow.

It's hilarious. Yeah, I went to Columbus. Oh, no. Every time I say that, it's supposed to be an insult, but this time I nailed it. I know. That's why I was like, I know that's not a compliment. But no, I was sent to Cuba every single summer.

And I would see progressively how difficult it would get to be there. At first, it was like, okay, we got AC, we have everything. We would go to the beach. We would go to hotels. And then next thing you know, no light, no this, no that. So it's been a couple years since I've gone. I really want to go once it's gotten better because I do have family there. I want to really see.

But, yeah. Obviously, it's a tough spot. It's terrible, kind of like the fall of Cuba, very, progressively and been bad for a while, but it just somehow continues to get worse. You mentioned the electricity, food shortages, all these different things. But I remember my grandma when, obviously, she was already here and she was alive and, you know, I would talk to her about Cuba. What realm, what time frame is this?

So she was there, like, my mom was born 68. Okay. So. Your grandma's probably like 50. She was, yeah, she was there like in the 50s. I mean, she was born 1936. Okay. So she was there from 36.

Yeah. When we were. Exactly. Thriving. I mean, she was wealthy. Coca-Cola was there. I mean, it was Las Vegas, but in the Caribbean. Exactly.

Yeah. Exactly. No, I mean, she said it. Cuba was beautiful. You know, the best beaches, very vibrant, a ton of energy. She was wealthy, right? Like, she had a great life in Cuba. And then obviously towards the latter half of her life in Cuba, that's where, you know,

Fidel was coming into power. And ultimately, that's what got her. out and we were talking offline she was able to get a visa so she flew into new york and that's where they had the immigration going on over there at the time so she went over there my grandfather who they were not together at the time but oh i thought when you told me i'm like she didn't help him i know but they knew each other okay like they were you know friends of the neighborhood were like somewhat kind of close but not super tight but they knew each other but my grandfather and his two brothers did the whole escaping and

and took a raft and made it to... The OG. Yeah. Getting here to Miami. Exactly. And then they rekindled in New York. And then that's when they met and they got married. That's such a nice story. You probably have the picture.

Yes. Oh, my God. Maybe we could pull it up for the video. There's a picture at my house of them on their honeymoon. And it's like a little cottage that they're in. And it's like my grandfather with his arm around my grandmother. Where did they have them honeymoon? I don't know.

I'm thinking like Cuba. They went back to remand. Imagine. Or maybe it wasn't their honeymoon because it feels like the picture was in Cuba now that I think about it. So I got to, I got to. You got to call up your mom. I got to call my mom or my uncle, one of them too. Someone will know the answer to that.

But there's a nice picture of them together. And I got to figure out the math of like when that was. But all that being said, like their migration story was like the start of obviously the the downfall of Cuba. Right. And then that's why I asked you the time frame because the downfall of Cuba. was also the downfall of motorsports in Cuba. We actually had Formula One in Cuba. No way.

Yeah, we had 1957. We had Formula One in El Malagon de la Hanna. Wow. And then we also had 1958. That's where the champion of that year was kidnapped by Fidel Castro. Yeah. I'm doing a clothing brand about it, by the way. Oh, snap.

I was doing a lot of research recently because I'm designing shirts for it. Okay. And it was an actual Malekon de la Vana. there was like 150,000 spectators that year, Fidel Castro kidnapped the champion, the Formula One champion of that year. He's Argentinian. And he, to make a statement, right?

And then the next year, he canceled motorsports forever in the island until now. I mean, until I'm like over here trying to get back into that. Wow. Dude. Yeah. That's a pretty insane story. And like obviously like your ties to Cuba, like, Yeah, yeah.

That's cool. That's really cool. So you talk about motorsports, right? Yes. Let's get into that. So you come into the States, right? Yeah, at that time, were you already, like, intrigued by cars and racing? I've always been in love with cars.

And this is something my dad can tell you better because it has been, when I was little, I would tell my mom to let me drive. I was like seven going to school. And I made a, like, I don't know, paper like a steering wheel out of paper and would mimic how she would drive like it's it's an ongoing obsession because my dad in cuba had a packard of the 50s okay and he would bringing me into the shop every time he would work on it and i would look under look at the mechanics of the car and i'm being like wow like this is something that i don't know i was born with right i guess who's by my papa but

i mean listen like what's meant to be is meant to be at the end of the day so like the fact that you were around it and you naturally enjoyed it. And it's not usual when girls gravitate towards mechanics and cars and speed. And my dad was like over the moon. He's like, oh my gosh, because he's always wanted a boy. And I'm like, I'm a girl, but I love cars. It got best of both worlds. Yeah, exactly.

So when we came to the U.S., migrating here, you know, we're not starting with any money. We're starting from scratch. So I couldn't really go and be able to race or drive anything. So I would do that. I would, you know, look at my car, my dad doing the mechanics. He always loved that and would get the steering wheel. And slowly but surely when I was 14, I started saving up for my first car. I started getting jobs.

I got BMW Z4. And that's where I was like, holy crap. Started getting speeding tickets when I was 15. And that's when my dad's like, listen. So I have something for you. Let's go to the track. That's amazing. Yeah.

And I was like, hell yeah. Oh, my God. And that's where everything started. It's been now, it's been short lifts. I mean, it's been a short amount of time where I've been racing. But it's like I started late, but I've caught up to everybody. I started when they were four. And that's why all the-

Four years old is when people are starting? Yeah, carting starts when you were four. You're lying. Formula One driver start when they're four. What? Yes, or five. Yeah, little kick cards. I can't even picture myself at four years old.

You have to go to the go-kart track and see, they look like bobbleheads. It's super cute. I know, that's pretty adorable. The big helmet. Yeah. That's insane. Yeah, I started racing and then I progressed. I mean, I raced with Mazda, then I did formula.

And now next year I'm going to do something really cool that you know, nobody knows. Wow, wow, wow, wow. It's funny, right? like we were talking your your dad introduces you to cars right you get your first car you have this like innate feeling within you to like drive fast right and like you love the mechanical side of cars and how you don't really know it in that moment but like you now looking back at that little girl then and being like shit like this is what i was going to be doing yeah obviously it was going to turn into this every single picture you see of me when i was that was in a car

I don't know how. Like, it's always me in a steering wheel. It's always me trying to, oh my gosh. I would, my grandpa gave me rollerblades to like just, you know, and I would go so fast that I would rip off like the leaves of my mom's garden and stuff. And she would get super mad. And yeah, I mean, I've always loved speed. I don't know.

So obviously your day job is racing. But like on the day-to-day driving a car, like what? I always get this question. What car do you have? And do you like want to drive fast? Or is like that your moment to like, you know, be a little more taranquilo behind the wheel? I like what you did there. I always get this question.

When I get off the track and I'm racing here in Miami, for example, I get right off the track, get in the car. I have a BNWZ4. Okay. The same car that I had since the beginning. I love that car. I get in the car and I feel like I'm like a tortoise when I'm going like 80 miles an hour. Right. But on the every day, when the adrenaline goes down, I drive like you.

Yeah. Or La Viejita allow, like, it's fine. But I do have more reaction time. So I avoid a lot of the bad Miami drivers. Miami. Yeah. The Pomero. But no, I don't want to drive fast because that's all in the past.

That's when I had like five, six speeding tickets. Yeah. I don't want that anymore. One of my first cars was a Camero. And I just wanted to go. Oh, my God. I wanted to fly off. all the time. And it's like, it's so effortless, right? And then I remember I'm like, you know what?

Speed's not a good thing for me because like I just want to go fast. Maybe not like race car drive fast, but like I just like, I know exactly what you mean because street racing. I mean, that's why I had to take it. It's insane. I remember like 2 a.m. you know, highways wide open. I'm like, and you let me let me see what I could do here. And then it was like, oh my God, I hit 100. All right. Let me let me let me scale back. And the next time was like 110. And then it was 1.20. Yeah. And then I find. The fastest, yeah, the fastest I ever won, I think was like, sorry, Mom, but it was like 128, 132, I think. Okay.

In the camera? Yeah. Was it an SS? Yes. Okay. My dad had an SS before I had my car and it was, I don't know if you know about anything about suspension, but. Probably not enough. Okay.

It was twisted. So the steering wheel goes in like this. Oh, yes. So me 100 miles an hour, I would be like, yeah, yeah, yeah. But yeah. You just feel like you lack control. control, obviously. Yeah.

So it's like one mistake or one thing. It was like I touched it and I immediately. That's why you see NASCAR. I mean, I have nothing to do with NASCAR. I don't trade NASCAR or anything. But in NASCAR they're going really fast in a straight line. Right.

They make sudden move. Everybody in back of you is going to go into the court. I mean, into the, yeah, well. Yeah. Yeah. It's speeds different. And like obviously your speed is. Oh, 1,000%.

Yeah. So talk to me about competitive racing, right? Like when, when did competition start for you? Obviously, you started getting into driving. You said you race with Mazda, you race with, but to now get into kind of like the Formula One world, right? What was the progression into that stage? It was a lot of work.

Yeah, like how does one even get there? Yeah, it's difficult. Most people stay in karting. I don't know if you know. Do I go cards? Professional carding. I got my first podium six months in. So that's when we realized,

it's not just a hobby anymore, it's more so, like, we kind of got to get a career out of this. And we had to, I mean, my dad and I worked our butts off to get the money. I mean, it's six figures a year formula. But that's why we progress more into the Mazda's. That's cheaper and it's more grassroots racing where you learn the basics of actual speed. And I was driving manual, heel-toe, you know what he'll tow? It's not even a clue. It's when you're breaking and you have to match the engine reps to the down shifts.

Got you. Okay. So now that we got that down, exactly. Yeah. I'm learning all of this when I don't even have a license yet. And, yeah, I mean, I had to learn. I had to go to race. You didn't have a driver's license?

No, not yet. Wow. And, yeah, I got my red driver's license. I started getting speeding tickets, all that stuff while I was in carding, right? And then when I went to Mazda's, it got better. I was doing very good. And that's when I started doing what you're doing now, where it's sponsorship acquisitions. Right. Yeah, the business side of sports. Because before, I would depend on, you know, my dad that was funding. And then I saw that it's gotten very

expensive and I don't want him to go bankrupt. Yeah, yeah. So I started, you know. He's investing in you at the end of the day. At the end of the day, I mean, yesterday I was talking to him and he's like, if it hadn't been for all the strength that it got to and all the money, you wouldn't be there. And I'm like, I know about it. Yeah, yeah. I don't see that. I know.

That's added pressure. I just went back to how Marcelo says like, if it hadn't been for me coming to. Yeah. I mean, there is definitely truth to that. A hundred percent. But it's like my entire life. 1,000 percent. But, you know, put yourself in the shoes of like your parents, right?

You know, like when you're that moment and you have a kid and you're like, you know what, I'm going to do everything and anything for my child, right? To follow their passion, pursue their dreams and, you know, do it well and right. And you have obviously proven to your parents as well that like you deserve a chance. Obviously, like you work hard. You're talented. Like you check the boxes. But at the end of the day, like now this is your opportunity to give back to them.

To give back to them. And that's where I am right now. I mean, I'm 22. So that's where I am working my butt off, not just to fund my racing career, obviously, but just to give a little bit back to them and make them not so much work. Because, I mean, escaping communism, coming here, migrating,

living all that, plus, you know, starting from scratch in a brand new country when you don't know the language, that's respectable. And, yeah, no, I have to 100% give back to them and work now for them. 100%. So was your dad the one that taught you how to drive with the intention of racing? Or who taught you how to race?

Or you just figured it out. He took me to the racetrack. And a little passion grew in me, right? Where I couldn't leave the racetrack. And it's, I can say like over, how do? Like, it's very intricate what I do. But learning the side of the data analysis. why the car does this, why am I not going faster in that corner.

So you like nerded out about it a little bit. I was in college while I was racing Mazda and I was like on the weekends just like learning about, you know, the statistics of Daytona, for example, like how I was racing Daytona at that moment? And I was like, how does this happen? Like the gravel, this and this is that. Not the gravel, cement. Yeah, I got what you're saying. The tire wear it's very intricate. And that's what I fell in love with.

But then the speed aspect, after I was going to tell you, drivers don't really see the speed. Like we can be 200 miles an hour and we don't feel it. Right. Because we're so focused on the corner, like the slow part of it to maximize it that we have no clue how fast we're going. That's great. Like it's just you, the track and then everything else is like, forget.

You almost like black out a little bit. No, 100%. It's called tunnel vision. Yeah. We black out. We don't think about anything because once you think, you start overthinking it, you start overdriving. And that's where your competitors will, like, blast through you.

Yeah, 100%. You know, you recently raced in France, correct? Part of the Formula series? Yes. Talk to me about, like, that experience. And what, like, what does that race, like, mean to you? It was the first time that I was racing internationally. It was the first time a Cuban was raising in Formula.

Wow. It was the first time, and I was alone. My dad and I... And you had to qualify for that? I had to, yeah. I mean, they scout you and stuff. Gotcha. But yeah, exactly.

It was difficult. But when I was there, I was in school, an FFSA, which is the school there. I mean, I don't know if you know anything about Formula One, but Isaac Hajar, the current Formula One driver, it was in FFSA. All the French people, all the French drivers go through FFSA. And it was really nice because we got to learn everything that I nerded out about on the low. Exactly.

Actually, in the classroom. Actually, I mean, we were there since 7 a.m. to like 7 p.m. And I was there alone. I was in Le Mans. And I was there by myself. Then we had the first race also there by myself. I didn't have the budget to have my dad there, which is really difficult because he usually is every single race where I'm at.

And he always, like, ties my helmet. And that's like the safety net. I have to tie my own helmet. It's fine. Yeah. But, no, yeah. I was traveling from like Paris to Le Mans to Toulouse to Dijon. Like it was eight hours.

I spent there like two months for my first race preparing. And for some reason out of this world, it was where I started getting noticed. I mean, I was putting all this work behind the scenes, no followers, yeah, just grinding away. And then that's when everybody started realizing, oh my God, we have a Cuban in formula. Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's incredible. It's like, how the hell did that? happen. Well, I'm over there, like, trying my best. And it was really nice because I was, I mean,

I'm 22 at the time of 21, very alone, working my butt off. Like, it's, it was a lot. And then going back to my phone and seeing like an entire community of Cuban Americans or Cubans in and out of the island, just saying, just keep going. It was like hardwarming and it helps me continue. Yeah. A lot more than, yeah. And so that now that was, was that the last. like formula race that you've done? I did. The last formula race was in June. May. May, May, May. It was recent.

And so just so I'd like educate the listeners and the viewers and myself, honestly, too. So what do those races do for you, right? Like, are they qualifier races? Like, if you finish a certain place in that race, it allows you to get into another race. Like, how does that work? It was for a championship that I did not continue that championship because that's not my goal. Okay. But it does qualify for my license. So my FIA license, you need a certain amount of points. You need to have like, there's silver, bronze and all that gold. Yeah, that's kind of

where I'm striving for it to come back to the U.S. and race again. Right now, I am currently racing, not racing. I'm currently training to race in the U.S. in one of the biggest series there is. Like NFL style, but racing. And I can't say it yet until October. But it's been more difficult than the formula will ever be. Wow. So you've been training for that. Yeah, yeah.

I mean, my team's here in Miami, actually, in Miami Garden. So I wake up, go straight there, trained until 6 p.m. At the rock? Right next to the hard work, yeah. You're giving always stuff. No, I'm just kidding. I'm like, where the hell is there a track? It's not a track.

It's not, it's simulator. Okay, got you. With a trainer. Okay, okay, okay. Yeah. Got you. Got you. Understood.

I mean, I mean, going to the track usually is like 20K just to race, to train. So that's why we have simulators. Gotcha. Yeah, you know, 100%. Yeah, we're going to do this a couple times a week. You're going to be down 100K before. 100%. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. So right now I'm building sponsorships, building myself. That's why it's all mental right now. I mean, I'm training. I'm doing all this stuff. mentally I have to prepare myself because it's harder than anything I've done in my entire life. Right.

What I'm going to do? Which, because I'm curious, right? You talked about the sponsorship side of things, right? Obviously, the racing component is the sport, right? But with every sport, there's a business side to it, right? So you are the brand per se. Obviously, you have similar to any athlete, right? You have a platform, exactly.

Just like an NFL athlete has the NFL as its platform. But they are their own brand in themselves. but the NFL amplifies them. Exactly. Very similar for you. So what does the business side for you look like? Obviously, there's like logo placements on cars. You're a level of talent in this social media world as well, right?

Yeah. And again, that's just part of the personal branding side. Like there's, I think people look at it as like taboo, but you have a platform, right? And you should be able to leverage that platform for your own personal gain as well. It's the same thing like we saw with college football. Exactly. where collegiate athletes that are students and full-time athletes. Like, they do both.

And they do the business too. Because they have to sign. They have to have an agency, all this stuff. Now, but remember, before they couldn't do that. Right. Right. It was just like, you go to school. Find me.

And go to school and you practice and you play your games. And that was all you were allowed to do. I hope I really wish. I was like that. Well, yeah. I really want to have that. Yes. I would say yes and no, though.

Right? Yes, because, like, yes, you don't have anything to worry about on, like, the business side. But someone's making money off of your name, image, and likeness. It's like if you couldn't monetize your platform right now, because, you know, F1 or whatever series you're a part of is like, owning you. And the monetization only could come to us. You guys cannot benefit from your name, image, and likeness. That was what was happening in college football. They changed the rules.

I think now it's been like four or five years now. where they started what they call NIL. Right. And NIL allows. Can you explain that to me? Yes. I was looking over like sports and all that stuff and I always see NIL. Yes.

What is that? Name, image, and likeness. That's what it stands for. Interesting. So college athletes couldn't benefit from their name image and likeness. So I was the number one recruit in, you know, in college football, right? And there was a ton of hype around me. Huh?

Were you? No. I wish. I wouldn't be here right now. No, I mean, I'd probably be here. but in a later part of my life. I'd be on the, you know, training somewhere. But they, like, you know, that example, right?

Number one recruit, there's a ton of hype. I'm going to, you know, a big football program or a big baseball program, whatever. The school is going to benefit because now they're selling more tickets. They're selling merchandise. The events, when I show up, people are going to want to show up because they want to meet me. And are you gaining anything? I'm getting paid zero dollars. I have a full ride to school.

I don't pay for my book. and, you know, all those things. I don't pay for my meals. But at what cost. But exactly. At the end of the day, like, I need a car, you know. I need to go, I need to go eat and have a weekend and hang out with my friends. And, you know, while you guys are all benefiting off of me.

Yeah. So eventually they changed the rule. And now athletes can basically sign sponsorship deal. So like through the university, the university still attached to it, right? So the university still can benefit off of it as well. But it's a mutual benefit. Right. So, you know, for example, Ohio State.

football team this year is spending $40 million on NIL dollars, just on the football team alone. That doesn't include any other sport. And that goes to an array of athletes that like, let's say Coca-Cola wants to partner with Ohio State. They now have access to their athletes and their athletes, depending the weight of their, you know, pool of like, you know, the number one guy is obviously going to get paid the most. And then other guys will, you know, maybe spread the pie amongst other people. But they're now able to get paid.

Like the highest paid college football athlete right now, I believe, is making $8 million. Holy crap. Just both sponsorship alone. Sponsorship below. Exactly. Yeah. We don't have structure in racing. Right.

Yeah. Like I wish we had that type of structure of college football, for example, or any other sport. Right. But this sport is so different. Because you don't have a team. We have a team. You do have a team. But we pay the team.

Yeah. As drivers, we pay the team to race. And to manage like the entries, the car, everything. Everything's ramped to the team do for you. They manage everything for like the logistics. Okay. Right? I'm not trying to like knock the team.

I'm just like. Oh my God, I have to stop with the... Damn it, hold on. There you go. Yeah, we don't, we pay them. We're kind of like, we're thrown into this. Wow. And we get to a state where we're just in this vicious cycle of looking for sponsors

and not being able to live and then just like spending everything on the racing. And it's very, very, it's nothing to do with college football. Wow. Yeah, it's like a reverse model. It's a reverse, yeah. We're thrown into the wolves and then figure it out. And then you're responsible for monetizing. For everything, exactly.

And that's why you see a lot of race car driver. But if you make money, you don't have to pay. Like, let's say you close a deal with, I don't know, I'm just going to use. Coca-Cola again, right? With Coca-Cola. Yeah. Do you have to pay anything to the team for that deal that you broke? No, no, no. You only pay for the season. Got you. Right? But it's, you know, it's so difficult to get to Coca-Cola, for example, because, for example, NFL people represent NFL, right? We represent the series that we race for, but we're individual drivers, right? We're not in a team. the team has different drivers, but we're not with them.

Right. We're individual, this is an individual sport. Yeah. So it's kind of harder for grants. That's the thing I never really understood about F1, right? Because like when I watch the races, right, I get to see guys are on the same team, but they're competing against each other. But they're competing against each other.

So. Because the team is just the manufacturer. The drivers are in a team. They're racing the same car, supposedly. Oh, so the manufacturer is just like, we just got multiple heads out there that are benefiting us. Got you. Yeah. Same thing with other types of series.

But, yeah, I mean, it's kind of a money sport. Oh, 1,000%. It's a thousand percent for millionaires. And I came from not being a millionaire. So it got very difficult at one point where I was like, I'm probably not going to be able to race. And then I, then again, I was like, that's not a factor for me. I'm going to continue. That's what we were talking about in the beginning.

Just keeping on going. Just like, remando, remando, remando until, you know, I got to a point where I was able to race again and all that stuff. But you can have the talent of your life. Like you can have, be very talented, very fast. You could be a really good driver and not have the backing because you're not very good at the business side of things. Yes. And that's why it's so important right now with having a following on Instagram. Exactly.

You see all these athletes now trying to get a following, getting more into social media. media. Social media right now is really big. Yes. More for monetization and all that stuff for us athletes to be able to eat. Absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, that I advocated to everybody like the importance of building a online personal brand.

Right. Because it is, it's a weird world. I get it, right? Like you're putting yourself out there. You're publicizing. And I'm not saying everybody has to do this. Is there an advantage to doing this? 1,000%.

But for athletes, it's a. And even more, even more, because then you're kind of left behind the curve. There's money on the table that you're leaving out by not using it. You're not leveraging the platform that already exists from like amplifying you. Because, you know, I use myself as an example. I'm building the platform, right? And then I hope that like my platform can amplify other people as part of it, right? But I don't have, you know, the NFL providing me a platform or, you know,

or another media company providing me the platform, right? but that's where collaboration comes into play, right? So you could collaborate with people that have audience and reach and then you can use that to kind of funnel. And that's why I think it's important because that gives you leverage. It's called networking and social media. Yeah, pretty much. But you've got to create some sort of leverage on yourself.

So like what's the value that I can bring to the table? And what's the value that you can bring to the table for me? And how can it mutually benefit us? It's the same thing when you're trying to close a sponsorship deal. It's the same thing when you're trying to maybe bring in talent into your network. in our instance, you're trying to expand your business, who are the people that you can bring in resource-wise, right? It's important that you find people, and it's funny, right?

We started a conversation about how it's almost lonely, right? And you have to be like your biggest supporter and your biggest advocate. While all that is true, it's also important to surround yourself with people that are also going to maybe help you in places that you struggle, right? the business side, right? You're a great racer, but maybe you need someone that's going to help kind of help bring more business deals to you. And it's funny you say that because in this world that I'm in, I'm mostly surrounded by very old people. Which is not a bad thing. I mean, there's successful businessmen or business women that have helped me, you know, close deals

or teach me that it's not this way, it's this way. Like stuff that you don't learn by yourself or Chagipiti doesn't teach you. No, absolutely not. Like, yeah, you have to call this person. And if not, they're not going to help you or, you know, things that most people don't know, but you have to just surround yourself with people that already made it or are going to or in your same mindset. Exactly. To be able to get to where you want to go. Yeah. Right?

Because you're not going to build by yourself. I mean. Yeah. There's the saying, definitely probably butchering it. But, you know, basically don't be the smartest person in the room. Uh-huh. Right. Yeah.

Don't pretend you know everything. Yeah. That, but, you know, if you're the smartest person in the room, you're not surrounded by the right people. Yeah. Like that's just the reality of the truth. Like there's got to be a level of humility in every single phase of your life to realize like, hey, like, yeah, I might know something, right? And I might be smart and I might, you know, be a level of success.

But guess what? There's somebody out there that knows more than you about whatever it is that you're trying to tap into, right? Or they may know about an issue that you're trying to figure out and they've already gone through that similar problem as you. And they could provide advice and recommend. on how to handle that situation. Or even, you know, other types of, like, professionals. I mean, I'm surrounded by lawyers.

Of course. Entrepreneurs, all this stuff that, I mean, they inspire the hell out of me. Because it's like they've also gone through a hell of a long process to be able to get there. I'm 22. I want a viewer there at. How can I get there? So I ask a bunch of questions. And, I mean, it's very important, again, where you said to surround yourself with

people you admire. Yes. 100% Yeah And that's why when I find For example A fast driver I'm going to be friends

With them Because I really want to get fast How can I be as fast as you? How can I be you? But yeah No going back to the social media stuff It sucks But it's really good

At the same time Because I really just want to be an athlete And you know Perfect my craft But at the end of the day I have to become an influencer Which I'm not

But somehow I have And it's like a learning curve Yeah Yeah It's you have to do it because it's just part of the game. But at the end of the day, social media is a tool. It's a tool.

Right? So I, you know, sometimes I struggle with it and I'm like, what do I really want to do with this? But I'm like, you know what? You're overthinking it. Like, it's one, a platform to be yourself, right? Communicate something that you may have on your mind that's providing positivity in a world that probably needs it more. Right. And that was really like the mantra of state tranquilo at the end of the day.

I was like, I just wanted people to like relax, you know? Take it easy. Take it easy, you know? Yeah, like there's a sign right here like that don't worry be happy. Like there was like, you know, Bob Marley, inspiration. Because the world can be chaotic around this at times, but we need to find like that, that equilibrium. And I was like, you know what?

Social media is the tool to be able to put that message out there, right? Through the form of podcasting, through the form of going on Instagram and posting something that aligns with the brand, right? And if you look at it from that lens and you realize like, shoot, I have a platform that can help people, then you're doing something right. And help can come into a variety of different ways, right? It could be providing advice, you could provide entertainment, right? A guy like Marcello Hernandez. Funny as heck, right?

And because he was active on social media and he did all his little stand-up and then he partnered with Only Endade, which give him a platform, right? And then the rest was history, right? He's obviously on top of the world, like SNL, movies, you name it, extremely well-deserved, right? Because talk about a guy, like we were talking about early, that hustled and grinded soccer, quit playing soccer, D1 soccer, to pursue stand-up comedy. And then was like, you know what? I think I should do this. And that's really hard to get to that state where you want to, like, quit the normal scene and go pursue something that's abnormal. It takes them, honestly.

Oh, yeah. But, yeah, no, 100%. Yeah. Well, look, that's three Cubans right there. And plus Fernando Mendoza. Plus Fernando. Number one overall traffic. Cubans are up.

Let's go. So before we kind of wrap up here, what's the, you talked about, obviously, like, new racing series that you're going to be a part of, but what's like your goals over the next couple years? To progress. become kind of a little bit more known and kind of get the Cuban-American side out there. Because what I've learned, and this is going to be probably long if I make it long,

but I'm very passionate about this. What I've learned is not a lot of people know our history. Yes, it's very true. Being an advocate, you know, and for example, in Europe when I was racing over there, nobody, people thought I was Puerto Rican, right? I was asked like, where is that? This German girl was like, where is that? Asia? No.

Wow. Like that. So it's kind of important to have representation and represent where we have been before, right? And kind of getting the word out there. And I mean, bad bunnies out there. Of course. For Puerto Rico. There's a lot of talent.

But for sports, Cubans have been always very good at baseball, at boxing. But we've never been in racing, right? I want to be that person. I mean, you are that person. I mean, I want to be the best. Exactly, yeah. Yeah. Oh, and helping.

I've helped a bunch of drivers that are Cuban now get to carding. You know, there's this little kid in Cuba right now that's in carding. And helping him get a platform so he can find sponsors to leave and be able to race in Europe. And just helping out the next generation also would be awesome. once I, you know, structure myself. There was, he's a, I think he's a senior at Columbus right now. Okay. Yeah, he's racing in the next.

Okay, got you. Okay. Yeah, I saw that he like won a race and then the next day he went to, he went to school. Yeah. That's basically what we were doing. No. Oh, he's not Cuban? No.

I just assumed, I guess, because he wants to Columbus. Because he's in my head. Not everybody from Columbus is Cuban. But I would say that heavy majority is. I still can't believe I nailed the Columbus. Yeah. How many times I've gone in that, though? Are you serious?

Oh, yeah. I'm like, I don't even know what that means. You radiate, like, private school, Columbus guy. I had bad history with Columbus kids. Most. Most people have. I mean, you have a bad reputation, man. Listen, I don't know what to tell you.

We're good guys, you know? We're good guys. Successful. Right. Hardworking. I'm not lying. All right. I guess.

But there's probably a novel. out there. The majority. Oh, man. Hey, Columbus, what, we got a bad rap out there. But look, I think at the end of the day, like you nailed it, right? It's inspiring the next generation, utilizing your platform for something that's good and really using that as part of your brand, right?

Because when you talked about like sponsorships and things like that, people want to work with the person, right? Obviously, like your reach and your visibility, all those things are. extremely important, right? You need to have people seeing what you're talking about and what you represent. But you could be someone that is like not talking about positivity and getting views and everything for all the wrong reasons. It could be millions of views. But if a brand doesn't align with your view, then it's worthless at the end of the day. So I think it's really about being authentic, you know, organic, have some sort of level of positivity attached to yourself. And again, like in a way

that's like true to you. Yeah. And honestly, like the rest will take care of itself, right? Because people are going to gravitate to working with the people that they align with. And that's why I love brands. I don't know if you've gotten this, but they actually want to meet you and be your friend first and then work with you. 100%.

Because then you actually get to know the brand itself. 100%. And they get to know you. Yes. And it's actually more so just being true to yourself. And again, the same thing you just said, just putting a little bit of a little bit of of positivity out there because how many times a day can you communicate positivity to so many people, right? Or, you know, inspire people to do something. I mean, I do me. I train. I do a crap ton of stuff,

but I somehow get messages of, oh my gosh, you inspired me to, you know, continue what I'm doing, what should I do in the situation? Because it takes a lot. I mean, it takes a village, but it takes a lot. For sure, for sure. It does. But you're young. young and there's still a ton of like good to come your way and you're obviously like doing everything right and you've had a level of success up to this point and I know the sky's the limit for you and I know that too yeah I mean you have to believe it at the end of day if you don't believe it then like you're not even giving yourself a chance I believe it it's gotten hard to believe it but I mean I don't really see it until I get there for sure

and I've never I don't I don't get there because this guy's a limit I mean I've never been like oh my gosh, I'm successful. Because success for me is like, boy by head. Yes, I'm with you. 100%. But you got to appreciate the journey. I always have to be grateful, yeah. And like, look, how far you've come, right?

Because I fall victim to this all the time. I'm like, I'm not where I want to be. Like, I know there's so much more out there. But that's what keeps you motivated. But then again, where did you start? I mean, that's where you have to look at. Fuck. It's crazy, you know.

But it is important, right? So like, acknowledge where you are because like, it's like, the pad in the back, but it's not having a, like, a level of comfort or complacency and saying, like, you made it. You never made it. I always say that's good and bad. That could work like the devil and the angel because it's like, yes, you're not complacent because you want to strive for more, but also you're not complacent. You have to be grateful for where you are, what you have accomplished. It's kind of like a double-sided soul. Yeah, no, no, 100%. Nailed it. All right. So we're going to, we always end at the end with a couple rapid fire questions.

Nothing crazy. I love these. Fun questions. You know, pretty traditional. Okay. First one, I'm going to ask you, what's your favorite, favorite racing moment? What? Winning.

Yeah, but like, like, talk to me about it. Like in general? Yeah. Yeah. My moments or in general moments? Like your moment. Oh, my moment. Yeah, yeah.

No, not in general. You racing is very broad. I know. Like, no, your favorite. racing moment. Oh my gosh. Hey, it's kind of funny because it was one of my crashes. I was like, it was one of my best weekends in formula. I was going to second place. This kid crashed into me. And I was so happy for some reason because I was like, it took so, it was so hard to get to second place. I mean, I was so fast. I was really happy with the car. I got out of the car. It was

total. But I mean, I was really happy that we, we were fast, you know? And that. And that, That's where I decided to start looking at bigger stuff and that's where I am now because of that moment. Wow. All right. I like that. Your favorite Cuban dish? Robo beha. That was fast.

I ate that the other day. That was an easy, easy answer for you. Are you like a pasta little bit like a pasta little with guayava person or like a pastelito with This is such a controversial thing. I hate guayava. You hate guayahu. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of it. Yeah.

Like, I like it. And I'm also lactose intolerance. I can't eat guayahu with cheese pastelito. I love them though. Yeah, yeah. But no, I'm a more carnit. They're delicious. Don't get me wrong.

But they're not like when I go to the bakery. They're not what I'm looking at. Yeah. Versus getting like four cadene. Yeah. You know, se croquetta. Yeah, I'm getting a little bit of an assortment. And guava's always.

the one that I get the fewest of. It's always the one that gets left behind too. Yeah. Like when I bring it to the family and all that. Yeah. It's always, or someone bites half of it. It's sweet, man. It's sweet.

It's sweet. Oh my gosh. It's sweet. All right. Last question is what does it mean to stay tranquil? For me, is exactly with the entire podcast. Exactly. It's just to, you know, lay low for a little bit and focus and realize where you are.

It kind of stay tranquil. Just sit back. relax it doesn't have to be this hard you're where you need to be just stay tranquilo absolutely it feels like for us latinos it's tough to stay tranquil sometimes even more when you have a Cuban dad a Cuban mom yes you're never tranquil in the household it's funny as like my grandmother got older she was like the tranquil in the house like she was always like ay it's not a big deal like you're worried and honestly that That was like a huge inspiration behind the brand.

Thankfully. Because, you know, she was like, she's like, yeah, you know, Vueita, like has seen life, every facet of it. And she's like, guys, like. Just relax. Take it easy. Everything's fine. I know this is all chaos.

But like we're good. And that's why. And you always are good. I have Juan gave me from Johnny Cuba. They gave me a little Stanley cup that has Johnny Cuba stay tranquil. Every single day in the morning. I go to the gym, I look at them like, relax, take it easy. Love that.

I love that. Honestly, I really do. That was, that was like the main goal, right? That's the main goal. That's the main goal. It's like, I want you to see that and just be like, okay. Yes, exactly. Clock it.

Yes. And yes, shout out Johnny Cuba, great Cerevessa, you know, especially on a hot summer day here. And their hot sauce. And the hot sauce. Have you had their hot sauce? So the, the whole reason with Johnny Cuba is like, it says stay tranquilo on all the cans. I don't know if it said I don't think it says it on the hot sauce

but on all the beer cans The beer cans do And the merch Yeah And the merch yeah And the hats and the Yeah yeah Yeah yeah

So Juan Juan's a great friend And he's been super supportive of us And I guess He loves to support young generation Oh my God Especially Cuban Americans trying to

He's gonna be listening to this By the way too He knows He knows He knows this He's he's the man Shout out Juan Thank you Juan

For all that you do For us Youngens out here You know, I'm 31 now, man. I'm on the other side. It's fine. I always joke around. They're like, dude, we're getting old.

I'm like, dude, I feel like I'm getting younger. I don't know about you. I got my first white hair yesterday, by the way, and I'm 22. I got like three in my beard, maybe more than three. I got a couple of them. That's all stressed, by the way. Nah, you know. Like, you can barely see them.

They're there, though. They're there. They're a slow reminder. It's genetics, maybe a little bit of stress. And, yeah, just cups. It's wisdom. It's wisdom. I'm going to start.

saying that. For every gray that you get, you just got wiser. It's a learning factor. Yeah, yeah. Well, Issa, thank you so much for being here and taking the time, a ton of fun and a lot of good conversations. And obviously, we're rooting for you. Thank you.

The community is rooting for you and excited to see what comes next for you. Very thankful. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Absolutely. Thank you guys for tuning in, as always. And tune in for the next episode. We will be doing an episode with Ron McGill from the. The zoo, Miami.

What? Yeah. That's interesting. Another legend. So tune in for that. As always, thank you, and stay tranquil. We'll see you on the next time.