Norris calls out ‘false facts’ in F1 criticism admission

Lando Norris has explained the "respect" he harbours for those sharing their opinions about his performance in F1, even when they are critical of him.

However, the McLaren driver was quick to highlight a clear distinction between what he views as fair criticism and opinions coming from those who do not have a sufficient appreciation of the position he is in.

The 25-year-old touched upon the reality of living in a post-truth society, where “alternative facts“ are presented as equal interpretations to actual truth, an idea he dismisses as plainly false.

As a drivers' title challenger for the first time in his career last season, Norris found himself under the weight of considerably more scrutiny than in his five previous campaigns in F1.

Overall, the four-time grand prix winner relishes the extra attention and heavier burden of expectation, even if some of the criticism is unjust to him.

"I'm all up for people having their own opinions and saying: 'what if he did this, should he have done that?'" Norris told The Fast And The Curious podcast. "I respect all those things, and a lot of those people's job is to comment to these things and so forth.

"The only thing you don't respect is people who think they know better when they most likely don't, because they weren't in that situation, they're not living that moment.

"And just false stuff. Stuff that's just like: 'how the hell has someone come up with that?' People don't call it conspiracy theories now, they just call it their facts.

"'Oh, it's my personal fact' [they say]. That's not how it works, that's not the definition of a fact."

Norris: 'I know I'm going to get criticised...'

Norris supported his outlook by underlining the growth he has experienced when it comes to accepting criticism - and using it as fuel to motivate and drive him forward.

"You learn how to deal with these things. And that's something I probably was affected by a lot more before," he acknowledged.

"I think last year, you just got to live with it and roll with it, the fact that people are criticising you or supporting you."

The British driver now welcomes the more intense spotlight and encourages those around him to be critical of him. To Norris, it is preferable to fakeness when he has fallen short.

"Of course, you always are much happier about those supporters. But I know I'm going to get criticised. I criticise myself all the time. I want my team to criticise me," he added.

"And the thing I probably almost hate the most in the world is people who try to make me feel good and do it in the wrong way.

"I prefer the criticism than a fake happiness, let's say. And that's just my way of doing things... But I don’t mind what people say, to be honest, because I’m the first to criticise myself.

"I’m also the first to be honest and say: yeah, I did a ******* great job today, or ‘I messed this up or I did that wrong.’

"I’ll always admit it and always be honest with these things. It’s just life nowadays. People love to criticise, but again, turning that into something that’s positive, where you want to go prove them wrong - and makes you work that little bit harder - is the main thing."