McLaren’s Lando Norris has spoken about addressing the unjustified stigma that surrounds those who open up about their mental health, with the 22-year-old saying he is “proud” to be an athlete who speaks up for those who fight.
Norris has been open about his own mental health struggles, particularly those that hit him hard during his 2019 debut season. The Brit has also been proactive in working with the team’s chosen mental health charity, Mind, along with team-mate Daniel Ricciardo and other members of the McLaren squad.
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Last season, the Briton was asked why he is willing to speak so openly about mental health and the struggles of others.
“I think, first of all, I’m really happy that more and more people are talking about it. And to realize that it will only benefit you and others; I don’t think it has any real negative effects: it’ll just help you get better, and it’ll only help if you have a big following, if a lot of people are watching or whatever it is, you’re just becoming human help those who are also having problems,” Norris began.
“First of all I’m very happy, I’m proud to be part of this group of people who have accepted it and are happy and confident in speaking about it. And I think one of the biggest things that has allowed me or made me think it’s a very good thing to talk about is my fans, my followers.
“It’s basically when I’ve hinted at it, for example the first few times before I’ve spoken about it publicly, some of them have said it would help them or the impact it’s had on them – and over time.” increasing the impact I can have on these thousands of people is huge.”
McLaren’s initiatives with Mind have included Norris attending esports charity events, designing t-shirts for himself and Ricciardo before the proceeds are donated to charity, and other team members also raising thousands of pounds for the cause. Additionally, the 22-year-old raised funds for mental health charity, Our Frontline, last year with a special helmet design at Silverstone (above).
Norris added that his social media fans are receptive to his outspokenness about mental health, asserting that his honesty can only have positive repercussions.
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“When I started getting messages that I was helping them or making them feel better or their friends or their family or whatever, it’s a pretty amazing thing to see how much you can help other people.
“The more I saw that, the more I realized the impact I can have and the place I have in Formula 1, in my life with the followers I have, with the fan base I have… So I thought it’s better to talk about it more publicly, globally and so on, and try to help as many people as possible,” he concluded.
McLaren will launch its 2022 MCL36 challenger on February 11 ahead of the 23-race Formula One season.
