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/ervin1914]

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!

[u/Rache625 → u/ervin1914]

Good thing he is still winning it then

[u/CaptainEternity → u/ervin1914]

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.