Sebastian Vettel makes F1 media demand in stern Lando Norris defence

Sebastian Vettel has jumped to the defence of Lando Norris by demanding the media praise the Briton for openly discussing his mental battles. 

Norris leads the F1 drivers' title by three points to McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but has endured a mixed start to the season. 

The McLaren driver was incredibly hard on himself in Bahrain, where he recovered to finish third after qualifying in sixth. 

Norris is known to focus on the negatives and has never shied away from discussing his mental struggles with the media. 

In the past, the Briton has been criticised for this, although Vettel wants to see the championship leader praise instead for addressing his mental health so publicly.

"Aren't we all having good times and bad times, whether we are Formula 1 drivers or having a regular job?" questioned Vettel, speaking to Sky Sports F1. "And what is a regular job anyway? 

"But aren't we all like that? We have better days and worse days. And I think the threat now is that people talk about what he's maybe going through and interpret this as a sign of weakness, like, why is he doing that? 

"You know what's going on with him, what's wrong with him? Nothing's wrong with him. I think everybody's going through the same things in different phases of their life.

"Self-doubt is the most natural thing there is, but it's the most unnatural thing to talk about, and that is wrong. 

"So I think it is completely fine, and I think it's very courageous of him to open up and talk about that side of him.

"I wish, and I hope, that the media picks it up and turns it a little bit around."