Damon Hill Highlights Max Verstappen's Title-Winning Edge in Tight F1 2025 Race

Lando Norris has taken a significant lead over Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen with three rounds remaining in the F1 2025 Drivers' Championship. However, despite Verstappen's recent setback in Brazil, 1996 World Champion Damon Hill argues that nothing truly prepares a driver for the intense pressure of sealing a title, giving Verstappen, with his four previous championships, a crucial advantage.

Why it matters:

As the 2025 F1 season approaches its climax, the championship battle has tightened considerably. While Lando Norris currently holds the momentum, Max Verstappen's proven experience in winning multiple titles could be the decisive factor against the McLaren duo, who are yet to secure a championship. This dynamic sets up a thrilling conclusion to the season, with mental fortitude potentially outweighing recent performance.

The details:

• Shifting Momentum: Initially, Piastri led the championship by 34 points, but Norris has since surged ahead, now leading Piastri by 24 points. Verstappen, despite some challenges, has consistently made the podium since the summer break, winning in Italy, Azerbaijan, and the United States.
• Verstappen's Brazil Recovery: In Brazil, Verstappen showcased his resilience, recovering from a pit lane start to finish third. However, Norris secured a double victory (Sprint and Grand Prix), widening his lead over Verstappen to 49 points.
• Experience as an Advantage: Damon Hill emphasizes that Verstappen's four championship wins provide a unique edge. He stated, "I don’t think anything is preparation for really being in contention... What happens is: it becomes a reality." For Norris and Piastri, this is their first time contending for the F1 summit, a situation Hill believes can be a "shock."
• Mental Hurdle: Hill highlighted that overcoming the hurdle of the first title makes subsequent attempts less daunting. "With the first title, it gets a bit tantalising and that can be distracting as well," he explained.
• Remaining Races: The season concludes with a triple-header in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. Verstappen remained non-committal about his competitiveness in these upcoming races, acknowledging the unpredictability of recent events.

What's next:

To remain in championship contention after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen must not trail the title leader by more than 57 points as the season heads into the Sprint weekend in Qatar. The final three races will test the mental and physical resolve of all three contenders, but Verstappen's unique experience in high-stakes championship battles could prove to be the ultimate differentiator.