The Formula 1 world is in turmoil after the recent statements of former world champion Jenson Button about the mental health of McLaren driver Lando Norris. After a dramatic collision with his teammate Oscar Piastri during the Grand Prix of Canada 2025, button has warned that Norris’ mental problems are aggravating and that the Brit may need intensive treatment. This worrying development has attracted the attention of fans, analysts and the McLaren team, which now faces a crucial challenge in supporting their star rider in his struggle for the championship.
The Grand Prix of Canada was a turning point for Norris, but for the wrong reasons. In the final phase of the race, on LAP 67 out of 70, Norris tried to catch up with his teammate Piastri for fourth place. With a failed maneuver, he bumped into the back of Piastri’s McLaren, causing his own car to suffer serious damage and he had to stop the race. Piastri was able to keep his fourth place, while Norris not only missed points, but also received a five-second time penalty from the FIA. Norris immediately took the blame about the team radio: “It’s all my fault. Stupid of me.” According to Button, this self -criticism, although admirable, is a sign of a deeper problem.
Button, who himself experienced a similar collision with Lewis Hamilton in 2011 as McLaren driver, spoke frankly about Norris’s mental condition. “This is a crucial moment to see if Lando is mentally strong and whether he can get stronger from this,” said the 2009 world champion during an interview with Sky Sports. “I think he is at a good point, but this incident can hit him hard. He must now show that he is resilient, otherwise it can go downhill.” Button emphasized that Norris’s tendency to publicly criticize himself and to fully take the responsibility for mistakes, can be a sign of mental vulnerability that requires intensive guidance.
Norris ’season 2025 has been a roller coaster so far. As a favorite for the championship at the start of the year, after a strong second half in 2024, he had difficulty performing consistently. His teammate Piastri has achieved five wins against Norris ’two, and in the qualifications the Australian leads 8-4. After Canada, the gap in the championship between the two McLaren drivers rose to 22 points, which puts extra pressure on Norris. His collision with Piastri, which is compared by many with the notorious Hamilton-button crash in 2011, raised questions about his ability to deal with the pressure of a title fight.
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella has adopted a pragmatic position. “We never want our cars to touch each other,” he said after the race. “This was a miscalculation from Lando, but there was no harm intent. He immediately took responsibility, what we appreciate.” Stella emphasized that the team will discuss the incident and that the “papaya rules”-allowing drivers to race but forbid collisions-will be revised. In the meantime, Piastri Norris has praised “openness:” Lando is a good guy. The fact that he is honest about his mistakes is a strong feature, but it should not burden him too much. “
The broader discussion about Norris ’Mental Health is not new. As early as 2024, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko criticized Norris “” mental weaknesses “, referring to his openness about nerves and fear of racing days. Norris has admitted that he sometimes has trouble eating and drinking for a race because of the pressure. Although this honesty is praised by many, rivals see it as a possible weakness. Button’s recent comments suggest that Norris may need professional help to overcome these challenges, especially now that the championship is becoming more intense.
For Norris, the upcoming Grand Prix of Austria is a chance to show that he can recover. “There are still plenty of races about it,” he said after Canada. “I know it will not be easy, but I have to work harder and make fewer mistakes.” McLaren remains behind both drivers and has no plans to change their free racing approach, despite the costs of the incident in Canada. The Formula 1 community now watches with tension how Norris deals with this setback. Will he come back stronger, as button hopes, or will the pressure swallow him further? For the time being, one thing is clear: Norris’s mental struggle is just as challenging as his fight on the track.
