Vettel praises Norris: “Exemplary”

Sebastian Vettel has praised current Formula 1 leader Lando Norris's open approach to weaknesses and self-doubt.

18 April 2025

From: dpa

"I believe it's exemplary," said the four-time Formula 1 world champion in an interview with the German Press Agency. The 37-year-old, who ended his own career after the 2022 season, added: "I'm not that old now, but that wasn't the case in my time.

Last weekend in Bahrain, for example, Norris admitted after qualifying: "I feel like I've never driven a Formula 1 car before." He was lagging behind and didn't know why; he was letting the team down.

Lando Norris struggles with self-doubt. © APA/afp / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC

This kind of self-criticism, especially in public, is not uncommon for the 25-year-old Briton, who finished second in last year's World Championship duel with Max Verstappen (Red Bull). During the duel with the 27-year-old Dutchman, who had already won the title three times, Norris also revealed that he could barely eat or drink anything on race days, "simply because I'm nervous and because of the pressure."

Norris currently leads the World Championship standings. Before this Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (19.00:24 p.m. CEST/Sky), his lead over his teammate Oscar Piastri (XNUMX, Australia), who recently won in Bahrain, has shrunk to three points.

Other generations with self-doubt

Even in his time, such things weren't communicated so openly, Vettel said: "But everyone has self-doubt – I had it, Lewis (Hamilton) probably did too, but other generations before us had it too. But they weren't expressed."

Vettel doesn't want to hear of any weakness in Norris. Quite the opposite. "I think it's a sign of strength that Lando is opening up like this," Vettel emphasized. "I think it's a shame when people attack him for this or suggest that he's more vulnerable. One should emphasize the change and the courage he's showing in opening up like this."

Schlagwörter: Motorsport Formula 1 Sebastian Vettel Lando Norris