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F1 driver & leadership speaker

Derek Daly

Derek Daly helps organizations build high-performance cultures and translate racing discipline into strategy. A former Formula One driver and bestselling author of Race to Win, A Champion's Path, and his new autobiography, Serial Survivor, he draws on decades of motorsport experience to guide teams.

Trusted by Pepsi, Abbvie, Zurich, Oracle

Derek Daly, Speaker | Former F1 Driver, Author
Derek Daly

Derek Daly

Indianapolis, United States

Typical fee range

$11k–25k

This is an estimated fee range for local in-person events. Location and format affect the final fee.

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Indianapolis, United States

Starting from

$11k–25k

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loading@getapeptalk.com

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+44 203 835 2929

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Derek Daly's biography

At a glance

  • Former Formula One and IndyCar driver
  • Survived a near-fatal racing crash
  • Author of Race to Win, A Champion's Path, and Serial Survivor
Derek Daly is a former Formula One and IndyCar driver who built a second career translating motorsport's demands for speed, safety, and split-second decisions into lessons for business leaders. Born in Dublin, Ireland, he financed his first race car by working in the iron ore mines of Australia and lived in an old school bus while racing in England. Derek won the 1977 British Formula 3 Championship, becoming the first driver from the Republic of Ireland to reach Formula One, made six starts at the Indianapolis 500, and won the 12 Hours of Sebring twice. He later spent 24 years as a television broadcaster with ESPN, NBC, CBS, and Fox Sports, earning USA Today's praise as "the best new face on sports television." He is the author of Race to Win, with a foreword by Mario Andretti, A Champion's Path, and Serial Survivor. Derek survived one of the hardest crash impacts a driver has endured at the Michigan International Speedway in 1984, and returned to full-time racing after nineteen surgeries and three years of therapy. That experience shaped his understanding of how organizations build cultures where compliance does not replace responsibility and where intelligent risk, not recklessness, drives performance. Audiences leave Derek's sessions with a clearer sense of how to shift from good to great, how trust and preparation help teams move fast without losing control, and how to balance safety with the pace their industry demands. Clients including Xerox, BMW, Zurich, and the US Department of Defense have all booked Derek to bring these lessons to their teams.

Derek's showreel and videos

Topics, sessions and talks

Drive and Survive: The Crucial Balance Between Safety and Speed
Derek Daly recounts surviving one of the hardest crash impacts a driver has endured, and the safety initiative in racing that followed and continues today. He explains how his sport built some of the safest high-performance environments in history once attitudes changed and compliance stopped standing in for responsibility. The talk reframes risk as something to manage intelligently rather than avoid, leaving audiences with a sharper sense of where the line between speed and safety actually sits.
Culture – Formula Won: How To Shift From Good2Great2Extraordinary
Derek Daly discusses transforming organizational culture from good to great to extraordinary, emphasizing the importance of leadership, teamwork, and continuous improvement in achieving exceptional success.
Accelerate to SAFE Speed: Speed, Agility, Flawless, Execution
Speed, agility, and flawless execution define today's fastest-moving organizations. Derek Daly breaks down the critical difference between going fast and being fast, showing how trust and preparation become the cornerstones of teams that push against boundaries. He explains how front-line employees achieve trailblazing performance by staying highly aligned but loosely coupled, empowered to make quick decisions with limited information. Derek explores why corporations struggle to develop these traits, sharing stories that have energized audiences from California to the Czech Republic.

Why we recommend booking Derek

Derek Daly's high-stakes racing background gives him a distinctive, non-industry perspective on high performance, bringing creative and unconventional thinking to building a winning culture. His passionate delivery translates hard-won resilience into practical strategies audiences can apply immediately.

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Trusted by Pepsi, Abbvie, Zurich, Oracle

Testimonials

I took a lot away, I want to BE fast not just go faster.

Charles Kilpatrick Pe Vdot

Best Keynote Ever

Chris Crocker

CMO, Arcis Golf

...people are still talking about it...It even made its way to our Global Senior Executive Team!

Crystal Logson

Best Access Stanley

Featured Projects

Derek Daly - Race to Win book cover
Derek Daly - A Champion's Path book cover
Derek Daly - Serial Survivor book cover

frequently asked questions

Something we've not covered here?

How do I book Derek Daly for my next event?
Email derek.daly@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Derek's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
What is Derek Daly's speaking style like?
Derek Daly structures his sessions around first-person accounts from his racing career — including his 1984 crash at Michigan International Speedway and his six Indianapolis 500 starts — using these as concrete reference points to illustrate principles around risk management, team trust, and organisational performance.
What topics does Derek Daly specialise in?
Derek Daly speaks on risk management and intelligent safety culture, organisational culture transformation, and high-performance team execution under speed and pressure. He is a former Formula One and IndyCar driver who won the 1977 British Formula 3 Championship, made six starts at the Indianapolis 500, won the 12 Hours of Sebring twice, and spent 24 years as a broadcaster with ESPN, NBC, CBS, and Fox Sports.
What does 'typical fee range' mean?

Speaker fees vary based on factors like event location, format, and availability. The 'typical fee range' figure gives you a baseline of someone's local, in-person rate sits, and we'll confirm the exact fee when you get in touch.

What happens if I need to cancel or reschedule a speaker booking?

Life happens! Most speaker bookings can be rescheduled with reasonable notice. Cancellation terms vary by speaker, but PepTalk handles all the details & contracts transparently upfront so there are no surprises. Our team supports you through any changes, making the process as smooth as possible.

Have all the speakers on the website previously worked with PepTalk?

Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. Alongside direct talent, we work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies, to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.

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Yes. PepTalk books commercial podcast guests every week of the year. A high-profile voice can boost your podcast's reach and deliver ideas to your audience at scale. Fees typically start from £1,200 / $1,500, depending on the expert. Our network includes bestselling authors, industry leaders, and cultural figures who have appeared on leading global podcasts — and many host their own. Whether you want bold insights, candid stories, or deep expertise, we'll help you find the right guest to elevate your show.

How far in advance should I book a motivational speaker?

Book a motivational speaker at least 3–6 months in advance, especially for popular speakers or large events. Top speakers get booked quickly, so earlier is always better. For major conferences or peak seasons, booking 12 months ahead ensures you secure your first choice.

Help, I need a last-minute speaker for my event!

No problem! We often handle last-minute requests and can secure or replace a speaker, comedian, awards or event host quickly — almost anywhere in the world. However, speaker availability might be limited as the event date approaches. Email hello@getapeptalk.com with your requirements.