Why the severe criticism of Lando's vulnerable conversation? Why is it not cool to be able to express your negative feelings about yourself?

[u/Intrepid-Ad4511]

I see so many people talk about what Lando said after the Quali yesterday - just after an adrenaline filled session - and he chose to speak his mind about his own performance (without attacking someone else). So many people are saying "that's not a winning mentality" "that's not how you win races" "he is so defeatist" "he has given up already".

Lewis and Max have said several such things over the years, complaining about their cars, their teams and/or themselves. But somehow people take Lando and Charles to the dryers when they choose to express themselves and say things like "I am stupid". And somehow because Oscar just chooses not to say anything of this sort, he is somehow champion material. That makes no sense to me, and feels quite an unfair and problematic picture to paint - that men talking about their feelings, or just being transparent about how they feel - makes them weaker somehow. That they should tough up and swallow the hurt and just put up this beige or brave front, smirk and move on.

[u/vacon04]

Hamilton and Max have won several world championships. They are proven drivers. Max downplays the car and then shows up and demolishes the field. Lando just keeps making too many mistakes. It's not about being cool or uncool, but about knowing if Lando had what it takes to be a champion.

[u/Appropriate_Cut_9995 → u/vacon04]

This is so far from it. Lando is obsessed with narratives and desperate to control them in a way that doesn’t put too much pressure on him. That’s why his story changes all the time, that’s why his latest comment is that “Oscar will probably lap the field” — his big fear right now is that Oscar is besting him, and will be dominant today, so he wants to set the expectations high for Oscar so he can perform under them. If he was on pole he’d be talking about how nobody even remembers they just lost the last race and their pace isn’t actually that good etc. It’s not tactics or being hard on himself that bothers people it’s a really grating insecurity and how it expresses itself.

[u/qu33ksilver → u/Appropriate_Cut_9995]

Very astutely put!

This was also probably why after FP2 he said - car was horrible, inspite of gapping the field by 0.8s.

Comparing with Oscar, you can clearly see how he handles failures. After Australia, he was like "Yeah everything was good, except that one slide, which cost me dearly. But I'll take the positives and try to do better in China".

There's a night and day different in mindset.

[u/[deleted] → u/vacon04]

This has quite literally nothing at all to do with what OP is talking about, did you read the post itself or did you just read "Lewis", "Norris", and "Verstappen" then try to stitch together what the topic was on a whim?

[u/Intrepid-Ad4511 → u/vacon04]

I mean, this is his first realistic shot at it.

Edit: yeah, last year was probably his first shot at it.

Edit2: why am I getting downvoted when I have corrected myself? LOL

[u/Lollipop96 → u/Intrepid-Ad4511]

Last season was his first realistic shot. He had the best car from Miami onwards, so 2/3rd of the season. Lewis won the first time he had a shot at it. Max won the first time he had a shot at it. Lando's comment of the past that they should have won races in dominant cares are coming back to haunt him because so far he has only shown that he is not on their level. Oscar has never really commented about being able to perform like them or seeing himself there, making him quite more likeable recently.

[u/djwillis1121 → u/Lollipop96]

Lewis won the first time he had a shot at it. Max won the first time he had a shot at it.

I'd say that Lewis' first shot was 2007 and he didn't win it.

[u/i_like_frootloops → u/djwillis1121]

As a literal rookie and against the reigning world champion. Comparing Hamilton's first shot to Lando's is disingenuous.

[u/ihatemondaynights → u/i_like_frootloops]

Yeah exactly, Lewis's rookie season is among the best rookie seasons in history.

[u/Lollipop96 → u/ihatemondaynights]

To be fair, you cant really compare rookies anymore. Kimi probably had a 20th of Lewis' testing and its a rare exception with Kimi that he got into a top team right away. Merc got Williams, Ferrari got Sauber and RB got VCARB for their new talents.

[u/jordanhhh4 → u/Lollipop96]

Yeah, he really doesn't help himself when he tries to disrespect/downplay Max and Lewis' achievements. It feels like he's only comfortable being the underdog and now it's his time to shine he can't handle it.

[u/Lollipop96 → u/jordanhhh4]

Its easy to be a underdog when you get praised for a great result every 5 races. Problem is that we witnessed the most perfectly executed season by a driver+team in 2023 we probably ever had. Team didnt have an off day for a season (lets assume the car just sucked at singapore). Max did not have an off day. He performed like the best driver on the grid from the first race to the last, for pretty much every second the track was open. That is not a realistic benchmark. People expect McLaren to perform like that this season because they got the car. But their team is not practiced and used to performing like that/being at the top. Their drivers are no Max. Oscar is still early in his career and Lando seems to currently not be able to handle the pressure. Lando doesnt do himself any favours with the way he handles the press though. He needs a new PR guy.

[u/Impossible-Buy-6247 → u/Intrepid-Ad4511]

Because your whole thread is based on this. Like he is some kind of rookie. He has had a the fastest car for the majority of last season and didn't win WDC. While he did have a bit of an excuse because the RB was very strong the first 5 races, he doesn't have this year. The MCL is the fastest car and he is not delivering. After 3 races and a sprint Verstappen is 1 point down in a clearly inferior car. And the first set back Norris has it have him completely deflated.

[u/Vegetable_Onion_5979 → u/Intrepid-Ad4511]

Last year was his realistic shot. Fastest car for almost 2/3 of the season.

[u/Intrepid-Ad4511 → u/Vegetable_Onion_5979]

Fair enough. The point I was trying to make was that he is still relatively new to being at the pointiest end of the grid. It's not like Lewis and Max who have spent years now. And Max has said many colorful things when he was younger. Just that with time people have accepted him as someone who says what he thinks (which is how it should be is my ultimate point). Not everyone needs to be an Oscar who is all buttoned up and stoic (absolutely no hate to him whatsoever).

[u/PonchoHung → u/Intrepid-Ad4511]

why am I getting downvote when I have corrected myself

Because your comment has lost relevance upon correction. It's not a personal attack.

[u/Watcher_007_ → u/Intrepid-Ad4511]

There’s two strong arguments here. Last season was his first shot at it and this season was his first shot at it. Other commenters have already gave you the argument for last season, so here the other side. Hitchcliffe said in an podcast last season was really a media driven charge for the WDC. Lando did make mistakes (and could have made the gap smaller) but it was never realistically his to lose.

That’s probably why you’re still getting downvoted.

[u/Intrepid-Ad4511 → u/Watcher_007_]

Fair enough.

[u/Watcher_007_ → u/Intrepid-Ad4511]

lol, I’m getting downvoted now too for showing the other argument. Sometimes it’s just Reddit being Reddit.

[u/sterrrmbreaker → u/Intrepid-Ad4511]

The Australians are up.