“We Think It’s a Sign of Weakness”: Sebastian Vettel Gets Candid on Mental Health Conversation in Formula 1

It was World Mental Health Day yesterday and Formula 1 uploaded a positive video of drivers talking about encouraging the conversation about mental health issues. Almost every driver appeared in the video and gave the message that it is alright to seek help if you are suffering. F1 veteran Sebastian Vettel had some words of wisdom to share as well.

When Sebastian Vettel talks, everyone listens. That is the influence the four-time world champion has over fans. While other drivers too shared their thoughts about seeking professional help over mental health issues, Vettel’s comments stood out.

“To me, it’s a useful comparison if you break your leg you go to the doctor and ask and he or she fix it and help you. Whereas, if there’s an issue with our heads or with our feelings and emotions, we tend to not take care of it and ignore it, do the opposite of what would be right.”

Vettel also said. “There’s this weird threshold that we are not able to overcome to talk about our feelings because we think it’s a sign of weakness.”

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He said that things are changing now and people are opening up more. However, he felt that the shame in admitting to seeking help needs to disappear.

Lando Norris is proud to be among the people speaking of mental health

Lando Norris struggled during the 2019 season. He just wasn’t able to get the best out of the car, despite seeing his teammate do pretty well. He, however, never shied away from speaking about his mental health during his debut season.

In the view he recalled, “Coming into Formula 1, with the pressure I was under, with the stress and everything. And when you have bad results, feeling like you are struggling and so on then you can dig yourself quite a deep hole.”

Earlier this year, Lando mentioned that he was happy to see people talking more about their mental health. He is “proud” to be part of that group of people who are confident to speak about it.

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This year, Lando Norris and teammate Daniel Ricciardo, in their effort to raise awareness on the issue, designed T-shirts and donated the proceeds to charity. Last year as well, Norris sported a special helmet at the British GP, which he auctioned off to raise money for a charity named Our Frontline.