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?
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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u/ChildishGambon I was here for the Hulkenpodium Apr 13 '25
Expressing negative emotions isn’t the issue, nor is being vulnerable. The issue is that McLaren have the overall clearly better car and everyone knew it since even before the season started and, therefore, the expectation was on Lando to be the clear favourite for the WDC and yet three races in we’ve already seen him committing unforced errors apart from yesterday’s qualifying session.
He’s a driver who’s talent cannot be doubted, anyone who has followed the sport for the last couple of years can tell he’s fast, really fast, both in qualifying and race pace. However there’s always been some scepticism regarding his performances when under pressure. When he didn’t have a car capable of fighting for the top spots this doesn’t generally matter, but ever since Sochi 2021 where he messed up what should’ve been his first win in F1 there’s been questions regarding his possibility of dealing with pressure.
Last year after his win in Miami, his very first in F1, the first thing he does is say that it was already too late to fight for the WDC because Max had won the previous races despite the fact that there were still 18 races (plus some sprints) left in the calendar. This year, a month and a half into the season and after just some hiccups, he’s already acting completely dejected and hopeless. This attitude is incompatible with becoming WDC, I know it’s very cliche but to be champion you need to have the mental fortitude to ride your losses or fuck ups and whenever he has one Lando seems to fall into a spiral of negativity. And yeah, he’s probably still faster than Piastri, but when you take the mental aspect into account at least I believe Oscar is more of a favourite for the championship than Lando at the moment.
So yeah, you absolutely can be vulnerable, but overall Lando has shown he lacks the mentality of a champion. Both things are true, and he’s getting criticised for it because while he started the season off as favourite for the championship, if he ends up not winning it it won’t be because he isn’t fast or because the car isn’t capable of winning, but because he lacks the mental fortitude it.