Formula 1 legend Damon Hill has thrown his support behind Lando Norris to clinch his first world championship this season, but issued a stark warning that the battle is far from over. With just three races remaining, including this weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix, Norris leads the standings after securing back-to-back victories.
Norris Proves He's Championship Material
The 1996 world champion believes Norris has demonstrated he possesses the right qualities to become Britain's next F1 title winner. Hill told Mirror Sport exclusively that Norris has found form at the perfect moment, just as his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri appears to be struggling under pressure.
"He's found something, hasn't he?" Hill remarked about Norris's recent performances. "Lando is world champion material, he's already shown that this year. Yes, there was a time when he went missing, but he's definitely back with a vengeance now."
Hill emphasised the mental challenge of fighting for a championship, describing it as a demanding psychological discipline that separates the best drivers from the rest. From a patriotic perspective, Hill admitted he's rooting for Norris to continue Britain's strong tradition of producing world champions.
Piastri's Championship Challenge Fades
Australian driver Oscar Piastri, who led the championship for six months and appeared the clear favourite after winning August's Dutch Grand Prix, has seen his title hopes diminish dramatically. Piastri now trails Norris by 24 points and hasn't reached the podium in the last five races.
Hill believes Piastri's recent struggles represent a significant "blip" in his otherwise impressive trajectory. However, the former champion thinks the young Australian, with guidance from his manager and former F1 driver Mark Webber, can still recover his form.
"What they're very good at doing, these young drivers, is they're good at analysing what might be causing that and they'll fix it," Hill explained. "You do need to draw on resources as a driver. It can be quite a lonely place if you don't have someone whose brain you can pick."
Verstappen Refuses to Surrender Title Defence
Despite Max Verstappen publicly stating that winning a fifth consecutive championship is no longer "realistic", Hill refuses to count the Red Bull driver out of contention. Verstappen sits 49 points behind Norris with only 83 points remaining available across the final three races.
The Dutch driver demonstrated his fighting spirit in Brazil, charging from the pit lane to finish third, and Hill warned that his experience in championship battles makes him particularly dangerous.
"Nobody's counting him out because they've seen what he's done before," Hill cautioned. "Just when you think he's on the floor and the count's gone to nine, he jumps up and delivers the knockout blow. He will not give up while there's a sliver of a chance."
Hill dismissed suggestions that Norris's experience from last year's title fight, where he finished 63 points behind Verstappen, would necessarily help him in this year's championship run-in. He explained that the reality of leading a championship battle presents unique psychological challenges that differ from being the challenger.
The stage is set for a dramatic conclusion to the Formula 1 season, with Norris aiming to secure his first world championship while fending off challenges from both his teammate and the most successful driver of recent years.
