Alan Jones, the 1980 Formula 1 world champion, has intensified the scrutiny on Lando Norris by branding the McLaren driver a "weak person" amid his battle with teammate Oscar Piastri for the 2025 title.
Jones, a 78-year-old Australian who shares a nationality with championship leader Piastri, offered high praise for the McLaren youngster. "Oscar is a pretty strong minded young kid. I love him," he told Fox Australia.
"He doesn't show off, he doesn't dance all over the place. He's just a strong individual and that's exactly what we need to get the job done."
The former Williams driver, who clinched the team's first drivers' title 45 years ago, contrasted Piastri's resilience with Norris' increasingly questioned mental toughness. "I think the teammate could be blown out quite easily and I think Oscar will take advantage of that," Jones said.
"He can do it this year, no question. At the end of the day, his teammate (Norris) is weak. His teammate is quite quick, there's no doubt about that. But mentally, I think he's quite a weak person. He's coming out with all this nonsense that he's got a bit of a mental thing, he's dwelling on some of the problems he's had rather than the positives. When they start talking all that nonsense, you know you've got them."
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher echoed concerns about Norris' vulnerabilities, suggesting that a defeat to Piastri, who is in only his third F1 season, could have lasting repercussions.
"He knows that if he doesn't perform this year, it will be difficult for him (to work with) other teams at some point," Schumacher told Sky Deutschland, referring to Norris.
"You know how it is in the paddock—once they think that you're a rubbish driver or not mentally strong enough to become world champion, then of course you no longer have access to the other top teams."
Jones highlighted Piastri's fearless performance at the first corner in Saudi Arabia as evidence of his ability to hold his own even against quadruple world champion Max Verstappen.
"Out of the car he's quiet, but when he gets in the car he grows horns and that's what you want," Jones said. "He sees a gap and goes for it, and Oscar is not going to be put off by that."
Addressing Verstappen's on-track tactics, Jones added, "There's a lot of other drivers he'll bluff and hold them to ransom a bit, but I believe Oscar has got the mental strength not to put up with that crap. He'll just take it for what is and give it back to him. He's come out of almost nowhere and he's got all the attributes that you need to be a world champion."
