Lando Norris has waved off criticism he lacks the necessary ruthless streak to win in F1.
The McLaren driver has been on the receiving end of suggestions he needs to alter his approach to racing, or that his response to the Austrian Grand Prix collision with Max Verstappen has weakened his hand in future battles.
However, the 24-year-old has rejected such notions - many of which have come from the media, including from this writer - arguing he does not need to change to battle for wins and championships, as it has "zero relevance" when compared to what happens on circuit.
"I don't care what people say from the sidelines," Norris told media including RacingNews365 when it was put to him that some felt he was too nice to be ruthless, or to be a world champion.
"I'm a nice guy - I try to be, and I try to be respectful in every way that I can. It has absolutely zero relevance for what happens on track... I can be a lot more of a dick and act like an idiot and have that persona and make people think that, but I don't need to, I don't want to.
"I still want to make jokes, have fun and laugh... I'm just enjoying my life, simple as that. When I put the helmet on, I don't hear what people say..."
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Since taking his first grand prix victory in Miami at the start of May, Norris has had a string of podium finishes, but has been unable to add to his race-win tally.
Whilst the majority of those results appear to have been the maximum on offer, his clash with Verstappen at the Red Bull Ring and the missed opportunity of victory at Silverstone have caught attention.
The McLaren driver is known for his self-reflective nature, which has on more than one occasion morphed into self-criticism.
At times it has been unduly harsh, and it has also been the basis of further criticism, both from the perspective of providing easily identifiable targets and actual criticism of his own self-criticism.
"No, I'm happy with my balance," Norris replied when asked if it is difficult to find the balance between admitting to mistakes and being more assertive when racing, a reference to his Verstappen incident.
"I respect, I take on board when people say, [but] I know how to do what I think, and what I do, better than 99% of other people. It's not like I don't care, I do care what people say - I always try and take on board and improve the way I work, the way I think, the way I talk.
"But I can say what I want, and I can think what I need to think. I can do that for myself better than anyone else can.
"In a way I don't care about people who talk negatively about me from that point of view. Things work differently for everyone.
"People have different ways of winning, different ways of being attacking or defending, whatever it is, different ways of just living their life.
"So, I'll do what I want to do. I know how and what works for me and I'll stick to that."
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