Jenson Button on psychological pressure in Formula 1

      In the podcast Beyond the Grid, 2009 world champion Jenson Button spoke about the psychological pressure that Formula 1 drivers experience…

      Jenson Button: “It’s important to understand that drivers are not perfect. We also sometimes lack confidence, and this applies to every driver.

      Last year, Lewis Hamilton asked a question over the radio at Ferrari but didn’t get an answer; he said, ‘Did I do something wrong?’ And he is a seven-time world champion. It’s expected that a person of his age and experience should have unprecedented self-confidence, but we all sometimes doubt ourselves. This applies to Max and everyone else.

      You forget about what you’ve achieved in your career and only think about the last session. You tell yourself, ‘I’m not good enough. I’m two-tenths behind my teammate.’ The psychological pressure you experience in this sport is immense. That’s why many perform poorly, even despite their talent. They just can’t handle the pressure.

      I’ve heard this from many drivers. It’s certainly not uncommon for a driver to feel insecure. We perceive this as a weakness, we try not to discuss it, which is why I’m impressed by Lando Norris’s approach, who has openly talked about psychological issues and mental health in recent years. It’s really very good. I think it makes him stronger.”