Alan Jones Backs Piastri for World Title

01/05/2025
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Alan Jones Backs Piastri for World Title

Alan Jones backs Oscar Piastri for F1 glory while taking a harsh swipe at Lando Norris’s openness about mental health struggles.

Former Formula 1 World Champion Alan Jones has voiced strong support for fellow Australian Oscar Piastri, tipping him as a future world champion and openly criticizing his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris — not just on track performance, but on personal struggles with mental health.

“Oscar is mentally strong. I really like the guy,” Jones told Fox Sports Australia. “He’s not flashy, he’s not all over the place. He’s grounded, and that’s exactly what you need to succeed in this sport.”

Jones believes Piastri has what it takes to outperform Norris and take the fight to the front this season. “Your first rival is always your teammate,” he said. “And I think Oscar can handle that. I wouldn’t be surprised if he beats him easily.”

However, the 78-year-old didn’t stop there. He took direct aim at Norris’s openness about mental health, questioning his resilience in a way that many in today’s F1 paddock would call outdated.

“Sure, Lando is fast,” Jones admitted. “But mentally, he’s weak. When drivers start going on about mental health and focus on the negatives, you know they’re vulnerable.”

His comments come at a time when Formula 1, and sports in general, are making real efforts to support mental well-being. Lando Norris has been open about his struggles, becoming an advocate for mental health awareness within the sport.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown previously defended Norris in a similar situation, after Red Bull’s Helmut Marko made dismissive remarks on the topic. “Lando’s been a real ambassador for mental health,” Brown said at the time. “Toto [Wolff] has spoken about it, too. It’s a serious issue, and making it okay to talk about it is progress. Dismissing it like that takes us back decades.”

Despite the controversy, Jones remains convinced of Piastri’s potential. He pointed to the Australian’s aggressive but composed drive against Max Verstappen in Jeddah as a clear sign of his competitive mindset.

“When Oscar’s in the car, he switches on. He’s not afraid of Verstappen’s tactics,” Jones said. “Other drivers get intimidated. But Oscar isn’t falling for that. He sees through the games and pushes right back.”

Jones concluded by saying Piastri has all the qualities needed to become a world champion, praising his rise through the ranks and his mental toughness on the track.

Still, in a sport that’s learning to balance fierce competition with genuine support for its athletes’ mental well-being, comments like these raise a broader question: how far has Formula 1 really come?

Jones Hails Piastri’s Grit, Questions Norris’s Resilience

Alan Jones Backs Piastri for World Title Alan Jones Backs Piastri for World Title

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