Alan Jones has never been shy with an opinion, and he’s picked his target again: Lando Norris. Australia’s 1980 Formula 1 World Champion has doubled down on his view that the McLaren star is “weak” mentally, arguing that Norris essentially lost the fight to Oscar Piastri the moment he spoke publicly about his struggles.
Jones first lobbed the grenade earlier this season on Fox Sports’ The Back Page. Now, in fresh comments to RTL/ntv and sport.de, he’s gone further. In his words, anyone who admits to “a slight mental problem has already lost before they even start.” He believes Piastri carries the psychological edge, calling the Australian more focused, less political, and “perhaps…more psychologically astute.”
It’s a very Jones line: old-school, uncompromising, and guaranteed to stir a paddock that’s grown more comfortable with drivers acknowledging the pressure-cooker that is modern F1. Norris has been open about his mental health and about being hard on himself; he’s also been ruthless on track lately. With three wins in the last four races, the Brit has slashed the deficit, sitting just nine points behind Piastri as the season swings back into action at Zandvoort. Ten rounds remain. The title picture is anything but settled.
Piastri, in his third year with McLaren, has handled the escalation like a veteran. Measured, quick, largely drama-free — it’s been the kind of rise that makes the “first Australian champion since Jones in 1980” talk feel very real. Whether that makes him “smarter” than Norris is a stretch Jones wasn’t quite willing to make, but he clearly rates Piastri’s calm approach.
Strip away the noise and here’s what matters: McLaren’s got the fastest package more weekends than not, and the championship has become a straight fight in papaya. The team is cruising at the front of the Constructors’ standings — 299 points clear of Ferrari — and unless reliability or in-house friction intervenes, the double is theirs to lose.
As for Jones’ critique, it’ll rile some and resonate with others. The sport’s moved on since 1980, but the scoreboard still speaks the loudest. Piastri leads. Norris is charging. And the only place this debate gets settled is on Sundays.
