Being vulnerable doesn't make you less of a driver, nor less strong

In recent years, mental health has taken on a fundamental importance, both in society and in the world of sports. Since his arrival in Formula 1 in 2019, Lando Norris has positioned himself as one of the most prominent ambassadors promoting this issue. The British driver has used his platform to foster dialogue, offer support, and emphasize that talking about mental health is not only positive, but also necessary. Fighting these challenges, he believes, is not a sign of weakness, but a natural part of the human experience.

Through his social media and his role as a Formula 1 driver, Norris has managed to connect with a vast audience, offering a message of empathy and understanding. His sincerity and courage in sharing his own experiences with mental health have resonated deeply with his followers, who appreciate his openness. Many have identified with his situation, finding in his words a refuge and a boost in their recovery process.

Despite being a high-profile figure in motorsport, Norris has proven that his influence extends beyond the track, contributing significantly to the emotional well-being of thousands of people.

Photo: Mclaren

Despite his constant fight for mental health visibility, the start of the 2025 season has put Lando Norris at the center of a controversy that casts doubt on his ability to compete for the world championship. In what many expected to be his year, one in which he could finally challenge for the title, his performance has been questioned, and his mental health has become one of the most discussed topics, mostly negatively.

During the first six races of the season, Norris has shown signs of discomfort and difficulty with his car. While his teammate, Oscar Piastri, has shown greater confidence and strength, positioning himself as a serious contender in the championship fight, Norris has struggled to adapt to the car. His driving style, more calculated and less aggressive than his teammate's, has drawn comparisons to that of Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, who has a much more aggressive approach on the track.

This gap in performance has led many media outlets and journalists to speculate about Norris's mental health. Instead of acknowledging the technical challenges and difficulties inherent in the season, criticism has taken a very negative turn, calling him "weak," "whiny," and even "cowardly." Some have even questioned his ability to be a world champion, pointing to his mistakes on the track or lack of aggressiveness at key moments, contrasting this with Piastri's more ferocious style, which doesn't hesitate to make risky moves.

McLaren's main representatives, Andrea Stella (team principal) and Zak Brown (CEO), have come out publicly to explain and support the British driver's difficult start to the season. Both have pointed out that many of the problems Norris has faced in these first races of 2025 are largely due to changes made to the car that don't fully suit his driving style. This has affected his confidence and ability to fully exploit the car in certain conditions, especially in qualifying and wheel-to-wheel maneuvers.

Photo: McLaren

Far from shying away from the situation, Norris has been transparent about his emotions and frustrations. After the qualifying sessions in Saudi Arabia, the Briton didn't hesitate to express his discontent: "It feels like I've never driven a Formula 1 car," he said in a post-race interview. On another occasion, when asked what he needed to change to improve, he replied: "Absolutely everything about me."

These statements faithfully reflect a pattern that has followed Norris since his early years in the sport: his habit of taking full responsibility for mistakes or poor results. He has repeatedly stated that he is to blame for not performing at the expected level, that he is letting the team down, and that his engineers and mechanics have nothing to reproach themselves for.

McLaren, however, has emphasized that their driver is not alone. Stella and Brown have openly defended his position, emphasizing that being open about emotions is not synonymous with weakness. On the contrary, they have praised his honesty and emotional maturity.

In the days following the Jeddah Grand Prix, the debate surrounding Lando Norris's mental health reached a new level of exposure, following his statements filled with frustration and self-criticism. Amid this tense atmosphere, a leading voice in the recent history of Formula 1 weighed in on the topic: Sebastian Vettel. The four-time world champion decided to speak publicly about what was happening to Norris and the way the media and certain sectors of the public were addressing his situation.

Vettel was clear and direct: "People interpret what Lando says and what he's experiencing as if it were a weakness. But it's not." For the former German driver, self-criticism, self-doubt, and moments of uncertainty are completely human experiences, even among elite athletes. "Self-doubt is the most natural thing in the world," he added, "but it's the strangest thing to talk about."

Far from seeing a problem, Vettel praised Norris's courage for daring to speak openly about his inner struggles, in a sport historically marked by emotional secrecy and a culture of unwavering strength. "I find it incredible that someone would do that," he said of the Briton's sincerity, whom he recognized as a necessary role model for this change of mentality within motorsports.

Vettel also shared a personal reflection: he recalled that, at the beginning of his F1 career, he was constantly told not to show emotion, to remain cool, strong, and in control. Because of this, he said he's happy to see drivers like Lando becoming ambassadors for a new generation, one that understands that showing vulnerability is not only valid but also powerful.

Vettel's words not only served as support for Norris, but also reignited a much deeper debate about the standards imposed on drivers and the way the media addresses mental health in a sport as demanding as Formula 1.

Sebastian Vettel closed his speech with a powerful message addressed directly to the media. He made an urgent call for a change in the narrative: he asked that these types of situations stop being presented as signs of weakness, and instead that mental health be treated as what it truly is: a necessary, human, and deeply relevant issue, especially in a high-pressure environment like Formula 1.

Vettel insisted that it is essential to discuss these issues from a positive perspective, one that fosters understanding and empathy, rather than criticism or prejudice. “We need to stop talking about drivers' mental health as if anyone can have an opinion on it,” he noted. “Neither the media, nor the fans, nor people who are not close to the drivers know the real context of these internal battles.”

For the German, speculating about a driver's emotional state without knowing the background is not only unfair but also irresponsible. Therefore, he firmly called for respect for the privacy and humanity of those behind the helmet. "Speaking without knowledge is not the right thing to do," he concluded, reaffirming his support for Lando Norris and making it clear that mental health must be a cornerstone of serious and respectful conversation in sports.

Another driver who was quick to speak out against the criticism was Lando Norris's teammate, Oscar Piastri. The young Australian driver, who has had a more solid start to the season, stood firm in defense of Norris and questioned the media narrative that has attempted to associate the Briton's emotions with supposed weakness.

“Every driver deals with situations differently. Some do so more emotionally than others, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that,” Piastri told the media. With his words, he made it clear that having visible reactions to pressure or difficulties shouldn't be a cause for criticism, but rather something natural within the sport.

His statements provided a voice of balance amidst the media noise, reinforcing the message that figures like Sebastian Vettel have also tried to convey: being vulnerable doesn't make you less of a driver, nor less strong.

At the Miami Grand Prix, Lando Norris showed himself more comfortable with the car. The Briton delivered an outstanding performance. Despite not having the ideal start of the season, Norris already has a race win, four additional podium finishes, and a sprint victory, results that keep him firmly in the championship hunt.

Beyond the sporting aspect, Norris also decided to publicly address all the controversy that has surrounded him in recent weeks. With serenity and firmness, he explained that from a very young age he has been extremely self-critical and demanding of himself. "That way of thinking is what has always worked for me," he stated. And he made it clear that he has no intention of changing his personality just to conform to external expectations.

“I know that whatever I do, whatever I say good or bad there will always be people who criticize me. That's why I prefer to stay true to who I am, focus on giving my best, and ignore those who don't know me or understand the context,” said the McLaren driver.

For Norris, the most important thing is that both he and his team know the talent he possesses and what he's capable of.