Nico Rosberg tells Lando Norris to get a psychologist as the 2016 Formula 1 world champion sends a blunt message to the McLaren driver as pole position slipped away once again at the 2025 Spanish GP.
Following pole in Monaco, it seemed as though the Brit had found his groove over one lap. However, just seven days later, his performance in Monte Carlo seems as though it could have been a flash in the pan.
Mistakes on his final run in Q3 ensured he could only marginally improve his time whilst Oscar Piastri found tenths in hand to snatch the first-place starting spot away for his fifth pole of the year.
It’s a theme that has followed the 25-year-old around since McLaren catapulted themselves into championship contention from the 2024 Miami GP, with persistent errors in his performances despite having the pace to win events.
In light of that Rosberg, who managed to beat both Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, recommends turning to professional help as sends a message to Norris by telling him to get a psychologist.
“Everything had gone perfectly for Lando,” Rosberg told Sky Sports F1 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. “He was first until that last run.
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“From my point of view, he needs to work on the mental side. We all work hours and hours training our bodies.
“I don’t know if Lando has a mental coach. Does he work with a psychologist or not? He definitely should because there’s so much value in that.”
Rosberg opens up on value of psychologist
In his quest to emulate his father, Keke, by winning a world title against such stern opposition in the form of Schumacher and Hamilton, Nico Rosberg himself made sure he turned to a psychologist to cope with the mental pressure.
Alongside being a good husband and father to an infant at home, he also had to cope with the extreme stress of gunning for a world title in the dominant Mercedes cars from 2014-16, having already being beaten by his teammate twice.
In order to handle the pressure and drive his own performance forwards, the German-Finn underwent six hours of mental training per week, as well as practicing meditation, reducing social media consumption and learning to control his emotions.
Eventually, he managed to claim the elusive title by just five points and promptly retired from the sport days later to continue his quest of introspection, as well as returning back to the family life he had to momentarily sacrifice.
“I worked with one,” Rosberg added, of his own experiences. “Just to help us understand the best possible approach.
“I did two hours every two days leading up to the season. It was more difficult than the physical training. It was insanely difficult and extremely valuable.”
