Can nice guys win in F1? Norris and Piastri say yes
In the high-stakes world of Formula 1, where aggression and a cutthroat mentality have long been seen as... The post Can nice guys win in F1? Norris and Piastri say yes appeared first on F1i.com.
In the high-stakes world of Formula 1, where aggression and a cutthroat mentality have long been seen as prerequisites for championship glory, McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have thrown their weight behind the idea that ruthlessness isn’t the only path to success in Formula 1.
Instead, both drivers are standing by a more authentic, grounded approach – one that values being true to oneself without compromising on competitive grit.
The duo recently addressed the debate, and while neither driver rejected the hunger or toughness needed to succeed in F1 – they're redefining how that hunger can be channeled to, in fact, enhance success.
Lando’s Stand: The Nice Guy’s Creed
Norris, now a seasoned contender in his sixth year in F1, has grown weary of the narrative that champions must embody a cold, cutthroat edge.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, he laid bare his philosophy, challenging the archetype of the aggressive, unyielding driver epitomized by legends like Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, and Max Verstappen.
“I feel like there is a very prescribed version of how people say a World Champion needs to be – overly aggressive,” Norris said.
“I want to win a championship. I’d rather just be a good person and try to do well. I’ll do whatever I can to win a championship but maybe I won’t sacrifice in my life as much as some others, in terms of who I am as a person and have the ‘f**k you’ mentality people say you’ve got to have.
“I still believe I can be a World Champion but doing it by being a nice guy.
“I want to just enjoy my life. That’s kind of the attitude that’s maybe not as much of a killer instinct. I just don’t think you have to have that to be a World Champion.”
Norris’ words carry a defiance, a refusal to conform to the sport’s harsher expectations.
“I want to prove you can be a world champion and not have it. But I don’t want to be pushed around and I also never want to be seen as giving things up because I’m too nice.
“I’ll still fight for things and I’ll still take risks and I’ll still do whatever I know I can do to be a World Champion but without losing the liberty of who I am.
“I don’t have to show everyone I’ve got that kind of attitude, I feel like people go around trying to put on a front and show people that you’ve got that attitude.
“I can easily go and pretend I’ve got a killer instinct and act like a bit of a dick that might give people that perception.
“But there are certain things I would not do that other champions have done.
“I don’t have as much of a killer instinct as probably most of the drivers or most champions because I was just not brought up that way.”
Oscar’s Echo: Authenticity Over Archetype
Piastri echoed Norris’ views, reinforcing that there is no single formula for what a champion should look like. The Australian, who is in his third full season in Formula 1, offered a perspective that celebrates individuality rather than conforming to an outdated “mould”.
“I think everyone has their own personality, everyone has their own style,” Piastri said during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend.
“I think the most detrimental thing you can do is try and do it in a way that’s not your own style. For some people, that looks very different.”
The 24-year-old acknowledged the need for competitiveness and composure but insisted that they don’t have to come at the cost of personal integrity.
“There are certain characteristics that I think you do need. Obviously being fast is the most important one. But there are certain traits that you need.
“But I think, as Lando said, that doesn’t mean you need to be a bad person. You need to be tough on track. But there’s a lot of different ways you can go about it.”
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He concluded with a reminder that greatness can take many shapes.
“I don’t think there’s one style or one perfect mould of what a Formula 1 World Champion looks like. I think they’ve all looked slightly different.
“You could argue that some of them look similar in a lot of ways, but again, I think the most important thing is to try and do it the way you want to do it, and that will give you the most.”
In a championship often dominated by intense rivalries and dramatic personality clashes, McLaren’s young duo is steering the narrative toward a new kind of competitive edge: one where success and sportsmanship can coexist as a new blueprint for future champions.
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The post Can nice guys win in F1? Norris and Piastri say yes appeared first on F1i.com.
