MANAMA - Four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel praised Lando Norris as a "real role model" on Tuesday and said the Formula One leader's open self-criticism was a strength rather than weakness.

McLaren's Norris, who leads Australian teammate Oscar Piastri by three points going into Sunday's fifth round of the season in Saudi Arabia, blamed himself rather than the team after a scrappy Bahrain weekend.

The Briton said he was "clueless" in qualifying, had made too many mistakes in the race -- starting with a false start from sixth and finishing third -- and struggled to feel comfortable with the car.

The old way of thinking in Formula One was to hide such vulnerability, lest rivals use it as a psychological weapon, but Vettel, who retired in 2022, said Norris reflected a new attitude.

"I think it's a positive development because we are normal people," the German, speaking from Saudi Arabia before a karting event he organises to help young women into motorsport, told Reuters.

"We do have normal problems just like everybody else.

"Heroism is fine but it's also part of the heroism to just talk about your problems and your weakness. I think that's a great development to see and to witness and, you know, real role models."

Vettel recalled as a kid being told not to share any weakness, not to cry, and Norris was showing it was OK to be more open.

"I don't think it's a sign of weakness. It might be criticized by some people, but if you look at the broader picture, I think it's just progress," he said.

Vettel doubted the rivalry between Norris and Piastri, winner in Bahrain and managed by the German's old teammate and rival Mark Webber, would have the same heat as his first title battle of 2010.

"I would still put Lando as an indirect favourite, but time will tell," he said.

"Naturally people always look for entertainment, which is fine and it's part of the sport, but I don't see those two having a really intense and rough partnership.

"I think they'll get along and I think (team boss) Andrea (Stella) also is in a position to manage them well.

"I think the rivalries nowadays are different. I think we had respect and I think this generation has respect for each other. But I think they have progressed and they manage it better than us to differentiate what's happening on track and what's happening off track."

Vettel said he was still keeping his fingers crossed for friend and rival Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, even if clearly not a favourite to win the record eighth world cham...