Divorce, Drive, and the Power of a Comeback: What F1 Racing Can Teach Us About Starting Over

Divorce, Drive, and the Power of a Comeback: What F1 Racing Can Teach Us About Starting Over

By Kristen Shearin, JD, CDFA On 07/09/2025

When I walked out of the new F1 movie, I didn’t expect to be thinking about divorce - but I was. Not because the film had anything to do with family law or financial settlements, but because it captured something essential about the human spirit: the power of a comeback.

Whether you're a client navigating the difficult turns of divorce or a professional guiding others through the journey, there are powerful parallels between racing and reinventing your life.

A reminder that no matter where you are in life, or how far off-track you feel, you can start again.

The Comeback: It’s Never Too Late to Shift Gears

In the movie, the protagonist isn’t fresh off the starting line. He’s seasoned, scarred, and returning after a long hiatus, but he still has something in the tank. He gets back in the car.

Divorce can feel like your whole life stalled out. Maybe you’re untangling a decades-long marriage, or maybe it’s a fast turn you didn’t see coming. Either way, it’s tempting to believe the best years are in the rearview.

There’s doubt. There’s grief. But there’s also an engine still humming beneath the surface and it’s never too late to start a new lap. I’ve seen clients rediscover their careers, their independence, their confidence, even their joy. Sometimes, the second act is stronger than the first.

With the right support and mindset, it’s never too late to find your stride again, whether that's in your career, your finances, or your sense of self.

Drafting Behind a Teammate: Let the CDFA Reduce the Drag

There’s this brilliant thing in F1 racing called “slipstreaming.” Basically, one car tucks in close behind another, reducing drag and letting the back car pick up speed with less effort. It’s not cheating, it’s strategy. And it’s all about using teamwork to go further, faster.

In divorce, that’s what a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) offers: a chance to draft behind someone who knows the track, reduce financial friction, and make up speed. You’re still the driver, but you are not doing it alone.

CDFA professionals don’t just analyze numbers - we create slipstreams. We help people move faster and smarter toward financial clarity, empowering attorneys and clients alike to make informed decisions with less resistance.

Think of us as your behind-the-scenes pit crew.

The Straightaways: Catching Your Breath

Divorce isn’t all high-speed hairpin turns. There are straightaways: those brief stretches where things settle for a bit. Maybe the paperwork is filed, or you’re waiting on court dates, or you just have a quiet weekend to yourself.

These moments matter. They’re your breathers. Your chance to recharge. Don’t ignore them. Take a walk, go see a movie, journal your wins, plan your next step.

Use this time to refocus. Not just on the legal process, but on what comes after.

The Curves: When Guidance Matters Most

Hairpin turns in racing are when skill, timing, and support matter most. In divorce, these moments come during asset division, custody negotiations, or major financial decisions. They’re the moments when going it alone can lead to a spinout.

This is where the team matters. Your attorney keeps the process fair. Your CDFA helps you navigate the financial twists. A therapist or coach helps with the emotional grip.

We help navigate those sharp turns with precision, strategy, and care, ensuring you don’t lose control just when it matters most.

You need the right people in your pit lane.

The Home Stretch: Eyes Forward, Hands Steady

Toward the end of a divorce, it can feel like you’re coasting but emotions can hit hard. The paperwork might be wrapping up, but your future is just getting started.

Now’s the time to revisit your budget, adjust your financial game plan, and start visioning what’s next. Retirement. Solo parenting. Travel. Freedom. (Heck, maybe even a convertible.)

Because this stretch isn’t about what you’ve lost. It’s about where you’re going.

Final Lap: You’re Not Just Surviving - You’re Racing Toward a Comeback

Divorce might not be the track you wanted to race on, but that doesn’t mean you can’t own it. With a clear strategy, solid support, and a little faith in your own resilience, you don’t just make it through; you make it count.

By the end of the movie, I wasn’t just cheering for a win. I was rooting for peace. For confidence. For someone who had come full circle.

That’s the energy I want for my clients as they approach the final stretch of divorce. It’s not about revenge or “winning.” It’s about finishing strong so you can start the next chapter with a sense of purpose and peace.

Because this isn’t just the end of a marriage. It’s the beginning of something new. Something yours.

So, buckle up. You’ve got this.

And remember: every great comeback starts with a single decision.

To get back in the car.

Tagged with: divorce planning, starting over after divorce, inspiration, financial planning

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