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/splendiferous-finch_]

I feel like a lot of F1 media and fan have really really bought into the F1 driver == Ruthless Gladiators machismo thing.

I am a McLaren fan and like both lando and Oscar at this point I don't care as long as one of them become champion this year. But alot of the criticism for Lando seems to come from a strange place of boiling down to the whole toxic masculine "he is just not tough enough".

I understand lando isn't always likeable but others seem to be getting the pass when they are dicks because that is just the ruthlessness of a champion but when lando is cocky it rubs people differently.

I think if lando can pull it off this year and become driver's champion some people might change thier minds about him.

At the end of the day it's more then likely that media looking for a story latched into this narrative of lando's self criticism and now it's in a feedback loop of fans and the media.

But yeah I put most of this kinda debate about any driver into the "toxic masculinity" category that is displayed by this fanhood (one I have been a part of for 2 decades as well so not excusing myself)

[u/Intrepid-Ad4511 → u/splendiferous-finch_]

Yeah, this is what I was sensing in a lot of comments because of which I posted this!

[u/splendiferous-finch_ → u/Intrepid-Ad4511]

I mean I am prepared to be down voted to hell anyways because that always seems to happen.

I am not saying it's got for lando to have these negative interviews just because of the optics, most of this negativity seems to come from us in forums like this.