17/04/2025 08:20
Sebastian Vettel has thrown his support behind Lando Norris and the
McLaren driver's often-criticised approach to his F1-mandated media
duties. The 25-year-old is known for being openly critical of
himself in the press when he feels he has underperformed, with many
feeling he is at times too hard on himself. Over the Bahrain Grand
Prix weekend, his self-flagellation returned, admonishing his poor
qualifying session by saying he was "clueless" behind the wheel of
his McLaren and that he needs a "big reset" to rekindle his
race-winning form. However, Vettel finds the Briton's frank and
honest manner refreshing to see, arguing Norris is a "real role
model" for younger, more impressionable fans of F1. "I think it's a
positive development because we are normal people," the four-time
F1 drivers' champion told Reuters . "We do have normal problems
just like everybody else. "Heroism is fine but it's also part of
the heroism to just talk about your problems and your weakness. "I
think that's a great development to see and to witness real role
models." Other former F1 drivers, such as Nico Rosberg, Jacques
Villeneuve and Martin Brundle, have voiced their concern in the
past over the affect Norris' mindset could have not only on his
performance on track, but also the McLaren driver more personally.
However, Vettel maintains that in the "broader picture" it is a
positive development, regardless of how it is received now. "I
don't think it's a sign of weakness. It might be criticised by some
people, but if you look at the broader picture, I think it's just
progress." Norris himself has dismissed the suggestion he cannot
separate his comments in the media with his own private thoughts,
in doing so rejecting the notion that it bleeds into his results in
F1.
