In Formula One, speed is just one factor. But the real competition may occur in the mind of the driver. This is why the 2009 Formula One world champion, Jenson Button, has complimented Lando Norris for opening up about his mental well-being. According to Button, the honesty displayed by Norris takes “a lot of courage” in a sport where drivers are supposed to be fearless. It points to the changing dynamics in Formula One where mental well-being is now receiving as much attention as racing speed and points earned during the season.
Button in the Beyond The Grid podcast said, “The way he’s been outspoken over the last couple of years on mental health. Really, really good. And I think that gives you a lot of strength.”
Insecurity is an issue that touches all drivers regardless of their success rate. Button explained that even someone as successful as seven times World Champion Lewis Hamilton may struggle with self-doubt during the weekend. As per Button, all drivers tend to forget about their previous successes and concentrate only on the last result.
Jenson Button Explains the Mental Cost of Formula 1
According to Button, racing in F1 requires continuous mental fortitude due to how much drivers lose compared to winning races. In his career, Button had started 315 Grands Prix and won 15 races. As such, he had lost about 300 races. For a driver who is one of the best in F1, losing so many games is hard to bear. As proof, Button narrated an encounter he had with tennis champion Roger Federer. The sportsman revealed that despite being considered among the greatest players in the sport, he had lost nearly 75% of the games that he had played. The same applies to racing. Motorists get judged each and every week, and when things don’t go well, talented racers find themselves in depression.
Besides his own struggles, Button acknowledged the role that Brawn, his former team owner, had played in making his difficult moments easier to cope with. According to Button, the presence of mind that Brawn had was important but the driver himself had to face his demons too.
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Norris Says Helping Others Matters More Than Titles
Norris has been quite vocal about his personal issues with confidence and imposter syndrome. He stated that he would constantly question himself about whether he deserved to be racing and living up to the expectations. Instead of bottling up these thoughts, he decided to address them directly. During his title-winning season in the McLaren team, Norris had access to a professional psychologist all season long. He claimed that it was essential for improving his performance, particularly in the second part of the season, where he built momentum leading to his title.
Speaking about suffering from imposter syndrome, Norris elaborated, “There were lots of doubts: ‘Do I deserve to be here? Why am I not as good as these people? You feel you’re wasting people’s time … I struggled a lot.”
Later on, Norris revealed that using his platform to help other people matters more to him than winning accolades. He firmly believed that sharing his story about mental issues could provide comfort to his fans. According to Button, Norris’s approach to vulnerability makes a compelling point. In contemporary Formula 1, it is no longer a sign of weakness.
