EXCLUSIVE: Damon Hill on the Formula 1 title race and Lando Norris’ chances of being the latest British champion.

Lando Norris is in charge of the F1 title race (Image: Getty)

Damon Hill is throwing his support behind Lando Norris to clinch the Formula 1 title this year, but has cautioned his fellow Brit that there’s still a lot of work ahead. Despite McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri trailing by 24 points and Max Verstappen even further behind, Hill insists are both still in the fight.

Norris, 26, has triumphed in the last two races, putting him in a strong position with just three rounds left, including the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix. The 1996 champion Hill has been notably impressed by the current leader’s recent performances.

Speaking to Express Sport, he said: “He’s found something, hasn’t he? And it’s been perfect timing. It’s come at a time when Oscar suddenly looks a bit forlorn, a bit under pressure. They’re both learning about fighting for a World Championship… It’s not the same as just driving.

“It becomes a discipline, really, a mental and psychological discipline which is quite demanding. That’s what the goal is: To find out who’s got the right stuff and who hasn’t.

“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, so it’s looking good for him.

“From a patriotic point of view, of course we’re rooting for Lando – keep it in the family a little bit! We’ve got a great record in this country of world champions. We always seem to be able to produce a new one. If one of us withers, then there’s another one waiting.”

Piastri topped the championship standings for six months and appeared the overwhelming favourite following his triumph at the Dutch Grand Prix in August whilst Norris endured engine trouble.

However, the Australian has failed to secure victory since that moment, losing out to Norris in every subsequent race and missing the podium entirely across the past five outings. Nevertheless, Hill reckons that with guidance from trusted adviser and nine-time F1 race winner Mark Webber, Piastri can still bounce back.

He said: “His trajectory, he was getting stronger and stronger, but you can’t ignore the fact that he’s had a bit of a blip. 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. If they’re any good, they’ll find out what’s going on and get stronger. Formula 1 is about finding out what you’re made of.

Max Verstappen ruled himself out of title contention but Damon Hill thinks he is still in the race (Image: Getty)

“Mark is able to guide him and give him some encouragement, hopefully, on that side of things. 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. You certainly can’t go around the place asking everyone, you have to have trusted advisors.”

Regarding four-time world champion Verstappen, the Red Bull driver trails by 49 points with just 83 remaining available and declared following an outstanding recovery drive from the pit lane to third position in Sao Paulo last Sunday that a fifth consecutive title is no longer “realistic”.

Nevertheless, Hill has witnessed sufficient evidence from the Dutchman throughout the years to avoid dismissing him completely. He continued: “Nobody’s counting him out because they’ve seen what he’s done before. 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 and he’ll be a factor in races to come.”

Of the trio, Verstappen remains the sole driver with direct experience of what’s required to win the title. Norris challenged him during the latter half of last season yet still concluded 63 points behind the Dutchman, and Hill doesn’t accept the notion that the Brit’s 2024 campaign has equipped him to better handle this year’s championship fight.

He said: “I don’t think anything is preparation for really being in contention. What happens is: it becomes a reality. For a long time, it was a dream and then it became maybe a possibility, but maybe a long shot. When it’s almost a guaranteed outcome – you only had those two really at the start of the season who were looking like they were on track – then it starts to play on your mind.

“The reality of it is quite a shock, I think, for the first time that you’ve been in that situation. You have to have the right approach to it. Someone like Max, he’s got over the hurdle of the first title. With the first title, it gets a bit tantalising and that can be distracting as well.”