Part of Lando Norris’s appeal to fans, and a testament to his decency as a man, is his openness.

But listening to him talk about how he was so nervous that he couldn’t eat or drink before races, it’s hard not to think he’s revealed a vulnerability he’s struggled to hide in his fragile world championship bid.

‘I was nervous when I had to qualify,’ he admitted at Monza on Thursday. ‘For the races, I was just as nervous and excited. I didn’t eat anything on Sunday. I struggled to drink.’

His more reserved predecessors – Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen – would never have revealed the same for fear of being seen as weak by their rivals.

Have any of them suffered from similar mental illness?

Norris has a different mental approach to British driver Lewis Hamilton (right)

It is hard to believe that they would. Schumacher, a fierce competitor, flew straight from his mother’s hospital bed, hours after she died, to win the San Marino Grand Prix the following day. Admittedly, tears were streaming down his face. There was emotion behind the German mask.

Alonso, the enigmatic machine, has no nerves. Hamilton, more sensitive than Alonso, is a driver tougher than nails. Verstappen was born and bred to race and there is no aspect of his profession that worries him. He is almost fearless.

Even Nico Rosberg, an underdog champion, has not revealed how hard it was for him to cope with Hamilton during their time together at Mercedes until he had to use all his mental strength to win the championship in the final race of 2016.

Norris’ openness, which has led him to speak about his mental struggles before, is fitting for an age where sharing inner turmoil is celebrated

Norris is laser-focused on ending Verstappen’s three-year dominance of the F1 world championship

That week, he retired. As Roberto Duran shouted under the onslaught of Sugar Ray Leonard: ‘No Mas.’

Rosberg tells me he resembles his German mother more than his brash father, Keke.

Norris’s openness, which has led him to speak about his mental struggles in the past, is fitting for an age where sharing inner turmoil is celebrated. Who’s to say his approach won’t help him? It’s just a different language to the past.

THE ROYAL REQUEST

If only Princess Anne had been on the late night flight from London to Milan on Thursday.

I’ll explain why, because when you’re up at 4.30am and boarding a plane before 7am, you don’t want to hear annoying announcements interrupting your sleep.

Especially when you’re told it’s a non-smoking flight – haven’t they all been for the last 30 years or so? – and are promised a ‘free’ bottle of water as if it were Elgin Marbles.

Princess Anne once decreed that flowery language in public speeches on planes was not welcome

Without naming names, I was with her HRH on the 2012 BA flight carrying the Olympic flame from Greece to the UK for the torch relay. She decreed that flowery language in public speeches was not welcome. I agree with you, madam.

MONZA CAN DONATE PRESS TRAINING

Monza drips with charm and history. Our media centre overlooking the pit straight was flooded with a sea of ​​red fans after the race. It was a sight. A touching sight because it represented a nation’s love affair with Ferrari, whatever you think of them.

We were served delicious pasta and tiramisu on Thursday, but there are worrying rumours that our space will be requisitioned to house high-paying VIPs from next year.

My friend in the Italian press corps, Daniele Sparisci, tells me that no decision has been made yet. The conservation campaign is ongoing.

Formula One’s longest-serving servant

Who has raced in the most Formula One races ever? A convincing answer is the great Herbie Blash, the much-respected deputy race director to Charlie Whiting. Both were Brabham boys under Bernie Ecclestone.

I once suggested to Bernie that Herbie was top of the list. ‘No, I think I’m top,’ said the former sporting director. He reasoned that he had raced in his first world championship race at Silverstone in 1950 and therefore had the advantage.

While Nino Farina won the first British Grand Prix for Alfa Romeo, a 19-year-old Ecclestone slept in his car the night before a Formula 3 race. He lost to a 20-year-old called Stirling Craufurd Moss. But there was no shame in that.

On Thursday, in the Pirelli garage, a commemorative paddock pass was presented to the media man who has attended the most races: Giorgio Piola. A respected technical illustrator, he has logged 900 races, dating back to the 1969 Monaco Grand Prix. He was just 19.

Unfortunately for Logan

Logan Sargeant has been dropped by Williams and replaced by Franco Colapinto, a 21-year-old Argentinian racing in Formula 2. Neither driver has a chance of filling the team’s seat next year, with Carlos Sainz taking over from Alex Albon.

Yes, Sargeant is accident-prone, to say the least, but a mid-season switch with no clear end in sight is puzzling. Is Colapinto an improvement? And did he need to be picked up so quickly?

Logan Sarjeant (right) has lost his seat at Williams after being sacked and replaced by 21-year-old Argentinian Franco Colapinto (left)

The race to sign Adrian Newey

Adrian Newey was so sought after by Ferrari that sources in Italy told me a deal to sign him was in the works. But Aston Martin and Alpine are now the frontrunners, with Ferrari’s offer apparently rejected.

As money talks, would the working conditions at Alpine – which Flavio Briatore is skillfully patching together – be more suitable for the 65-year-old super-designer to go there?

‘He may find himself over-managed at Aston,’ one observer told me, nodding towards owner Lawrence Stroll.