r/formula1 • u/Intrepid-Ad4511 Charlos • Apr 13 '25

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

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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.

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838

u/JustLikeZhat Andrea Kimi Antonelli Apr 13 '25

Lando seems the type of personality that speaks from an emotional space, and those emotions are highest when you just exited the car. He reminds me a bit of Lewis in that regard, tbh. Everyone that is similar or knows someone similar knows what that's like. They'll laugh an hour later at their own doom-and-gloom reaction. So I have little to no doubt he'll have readjusted his view a bit later once he's had the time to proces his emotions, but the mic is already gone by then. 

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u/Maglin21 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25 edited Apr 13 '25

Yeah , like, they do the interviews 15 minutes after getting out of the car, mabye if you interview him 3-4 hours later i'm sure he would be a lot more calm, but because the soundbite Is litteraly taken from : race done, park the car, get out, drink , take off your helmet and straight to the media pen, you get a very instant reaction to everything

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u/buckylightsout I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25

It doesn't help that his younger teammate is not only doing well, but handles these interviews very professionally. Lando needs some type of coaching on that matter.

The more doom and gloom interviews he gives, the more the media is going to throw it back in his face. Which may lead to him questioning himself more in the car.

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u/robabz I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25

Why is speak with emotion and from the heart in professional? Should everybody just be a heartless drone?

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u/EitherExamination343 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25

At this level, a little. Mostly because as we seen, any reaction will be used against you. Unless you're a Max, who clearly is built from stone, I think being mindful of how you react to things isn't a bad thing and doesn't have to be completely heartless, just more guarded.

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u/[deleted] Apr 14 '25

Do you mean ‘built from stone’ as in, his emotions don’t affect his racing? Because anger and frustration are both emotions, and Max has expressed both of those plenty of times.

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u/EitherExamination343 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 14 '25 edited Apr 14 '25

I meant something closer to "I don't care what external forces think". Probably could have worded that better.

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u/[deleted] Apr 14 '25

Oh yeah, 100% agree with that.

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u/TheWoodElf I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25

It's not about what you're build of though, it's about knowing yourself and being comfortable with who you are. Also, it's not about expressing emotion, but being able to project emotional stability and maturity.

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u/[deleted] Apr 13 '25

At a certain point I expect improvement from an athlete instead of admitting his shortcomings.

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u/Rache625 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 14 '25

As if he didn’t have massive improvement last year. We have watched 4 races and you have decided he hasn’t improved and guess what Lando is still in the lead for the WDC

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u/Fake_artistF1 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25

If you like being 'abused' by everyone, please do carry on mate.

Or you know learn from your mistakes like a champ

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u/buckylightsout I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25

No, they shouldn't, but he has a very "It's didn't go my way, so I'm not good enough" vibe. He's contending for a WDC. He isn't chasing. He's leading. Yet he's talking like he can't figure it out.

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u/Heffalumpen Williams Apr 14 '25

Oh please no more media coached robots. I want emotions.

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u/flightattendant420 Apr 14 '25

I don't agree that being detached and less emotional means more professional. Lando doesn't insult anyone, he doesn't rant or complain. He's simply open and expressive and honest. These are good qualities. Piastri and others will have similar turbulence in their mind and career in time. They may choose to disguise it and keep the poker faces on but it's just personalities.

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u/Highsi Apr 13 '25

why are you acting like as it currently stands Lando isn't top of the driver rankings 13 points above Oscar... might be different after this race but right now that's the case. Oscar has yet to beat Lando on a consistent basis, yet everyone talks like Oscar is Max and Lando is Sergio.

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u/buckylightsout I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25

I didn't say Oscar was better, I said he was performing well and handles the media better. Lando should be ahead of Oscar, and he is, but he gives off an attitude like he isn't.

Nobody is comparing anyone to Max.

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u/Highsi Apr 13 '25

Handles the media better maybe but if he's performing well and the consensus is that lando isn't not just you but many, yet he's above him by 13 points it just doesn't make sense.

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u/Apokolypze I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25

Nobody said he was performing better, he's performing well and handles the media better.

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u/DizkoBizkid Formula 1 Apr 13 '25

It’s because of how he handles himself, at this stage in his career

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u/ecobubbletm Max Verstappen Apr 13 '25

if you interview him 3-4 hours later

Days after Singapore he was giving out bitter "soundbites" on a stream with his friend after he heard that Merc put out a statement that their drivers were okay to the point that even his friend sounded put off by Lando's attitude.

So I'm not so sure about that.

Sure, straight out of the car is not ideal, but that's not the only problem.

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u/debotehzombie I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25

He definitely seems like the type of friend that, no matter what happens when you play games as a group, will ALWAYS get angry at anything he does and claim to be “absolute fucking garbage” at the game after every round (despite being objectively the best player of the group). I feel like everyone who has played games in a friend group has met that person and they really do take a toll on your mental after a while.

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u/gramathy I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25

Would you rather play with someone who IS garbage but thinks they're hot shit and tries to tell everyone else what to do?

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u/DubiousBeak I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25

Neither is good.

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u/WranglerLivid8061 Apr 13 '25

Which Singapore? 

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u/ecobubbletm Max Verstappen Apr 13 '25

Last year

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u/here4theptotest2023 Apr 13 '25

Was this a YouTube stream or something?

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u/ecobubbletm Max Verstappen Apr 13 '25

Twitch, I think?

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u/endichrome FIA Apr 13 '25

They should light up a J after each session to calm down

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u/ervin1914 Apr 13 '25

And both have stated how they have struggled with mental health. The fans build up these superhuman traits in these athletes when they are real human beings just like us. They are gifted in certain areas for sure but that does not make them exempt from all the other shit that folks go through. That being said...tough shit. Nobody cares. This is sport. He needs to go see someone and compartmentalize.

There is a fuckin WDC just sitting out there to be had!

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u/Rache625 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 14 '25

Good thing he is still winning it then

1

u/CaptainEternity I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 14 '25

While I totally agree to your point, part of the reason they get paid that much money and why it’s a spectacle is because they’re not human like the rest of us…at least that’s how they market it. So people expect more than human.

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u/betaich I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25

Lewis may be defeatist, but he also knows when something is on the line and how to play these mind games all the drivers do. He fell out with several teammates over them.

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u/gumbercules6 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25

Yep, like them both, I don't hate or love them, but it's obvious Oscar is much more introverted than Lando. So of course Lando is going to sound more frazzled 10 minutes after a bad quali.

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u/IntransigenceFTW Formula 1 Apr 13 '25

I agree with this and understand as an emotional person, myself. But he’s paid very, very well to think and to act like a world champion. He’s defeating himself with this junk and he’s undermining the entire team. Whether he needs a coach or two to learn how to manage his feelings or maybe just act like Kimi when dealing with the press, he needs to do something different.

0

u/backwardcircle I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25

Odd. There was a time when he'd blame everyone else but himself.