
Damon Hill predicts Lando Norris will win three or four more F1 titles
1996 Champion Damon Hill believes newly-crowned 2025 World Champion Lando Norris has the potential to secure three or four more titles in his career.
Lando Norris has secured his maiden World Championship in 2025, edging out Max Verstappen by just two points in a thrilling season finale. Following this breakthrough, 1996 Champion Damon Hill believes this is just the beginning of a dominant era for the McLaren driver, predicting Norris is capable of winning "three or four" more titles.
Why it matters:
Breaking the duck for a first championship is often the most significant psychological hurdle for elite drivers. Hill suggests that having achieved this feat, Norris enters a new phase of confidence and comfort. This mental shift could allow him to establish a dynasty at McLaren, potentially joining the ranks of the sport's all-time greats.
The Details:
- The Mental Block: Hill emphasized on the Stay on Track podcast that winning the first title brings a "lot of comfort," allowing a driver to relax and race with less pressure.
- Schumacher Comparison: Hill drew parallels to Michael Schumacher, noting that for some, winning propels them to achieve even more. He suggested Norris possesses the drive to continue adding to his tally.
- The Piastri Threat: While Norris is the reigning champion, Hill expects teammate Oscar Piastri to be a formidable opponent in 2026. He believes Piastri will spend the winter analyzing the "little holes" in his 2025 performance that led to a late-season dip.
- Internal Growth: Both drivers learned immensely from their intra-team battle and the pressure from Verstappen. Hill anticipates a "strong pairing" with increased determination from Piastri to overturn the hierarchy.
What's next:
As Formula 1 emerges from the winter break, the narrative shifts to the 2026 season. The primary storyline will be whether Norris can defend his crown against a revitalized Piastri, who is expected to return with patched weaknesses and a renewed desire to beat his teammate.