Damon Hill Predicts Multiple Titles for Lando Norris After 2025 Triumph

1996 Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill believes newly-crowned 2025 title winner Lando Norris has the potential to secure "three or four" championships during his career. Hill suggests that the psychological relief of securing the first title will propel Norris to further success, while also predicting a fierce internal battle with teammate Oscar Piastri in the upcoming season.

Why it matters:

Winning a championship fundamentally alters a driver's legacy and mindset. Hill's endorsement adds significant weight to the narrative that Norris is poised to dominate the next era of Formula 1. Furthermore, the evolving dynamic at McLaren between Norris and Piastri is set to become a defining storyline for 2026, potentially driving the team to sustained success or creating intense internal friction.

The details:

• Maiden Triumph: Norris clinched the 2025 drivers' championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, finishing third to edge out Max Verstappen by a razor-thin margin of just two points.
• Champion's Insight: Speaking on the Stay on Track podcast, Hill drew parallels to Michael Schumacher, noting that winning often fuels the desire for more rather than satisfying it. He stated, "I definitely think Lando’s got more than one in him. I think he’s probably got three or four."
• The Piastri Factor: While Norris celebrated, teammate Oscar Piastri led the standings for much of the year before falling short. Hill expects Piastri to analyze his "little holes in performance" over the winter and return with renewed determination to beat Norris.
• Internal Rivalry: Hill emphasized that Piastri did not underperform and that the McLaren pairing will remain incredibly strong, with the Australian likely to pose an even stiffer challenge in the future.

Looking ahead:

As McLaren prepares for the defense of their titles, the focus shifts to how Norris handles the pressure of being a reigning champion and how Piastri evolves. Hill's insights suggest that the internal rivalry at Woking could be the catalyst for a new era of dominance, provided the team effectively manages the competition between their two star drivers.