“I don’t know if he realizes”: Damon Hill fears Lando Norris doesn’t grasp the cost of losing to Oscar Piastri
Former F1 world champion Damon Hill has claimed that Lando Norris simply must not be beaten by Oscar Piastri in 2025. The Briton fears that Norris does not understand the consequences of losing a head-to-head battle with his teammate.
After Max Verstappen’s DNF at the Austrian GP, it seems as though the 2025 F1 title fight is now just between the McLaren drivers. Lando Norris currently sits 15 points behind Oscar Piastri in the drivers’ standings. Former F1 driver Damon Hill fears losing the championship to Piastri could have huge consequences for Norris.
Speaking to The Guardian, Hill listed down drivers on the current grid who could potentially match Max Verstappen’s legacy. He listed Norris as one of the names but issued the Briton a warning at the same time.
“Lando [Norris] is very talented. He’s gifted and smart, but I don’t sense he’s concerned enough that he might lose it,” said Hill.
“I would be worried he’s going to come off second-best to Oscar [Piastri]. I don’t know if he realizes the consequences. You just can’t be beaten.” he added.
Hill also admitted to being impressed by Oscar Piastri’s understated “calmness and confidence”. The 1996 F1 world champion also branded Charles Leclerc as ” super-talented and super-quick”, but wondered if he was “too comfortable” at Ferrari.
Hill himself won his only world championship in similar circumstances to what the McLarens find themselves in right now. In 1996, his only real challenge came from teammate Jacques Villeneuve, as Williams was the quickest team. Hill beat his Canadian teammate by 19 points.
Lando Norris hoping to see no hostility for Oscar Piastri at the British GP
Lando Norris hopes that the British fans at Silverstone aren’t hostile toward his championship rival Oscar Piastri. The British crowd has been known to get on the back of non-British drivers, especially when they are locked in a title fight with one of their favorites.
At the post-race press conference in Austria, Piastri was asked about potentially being booed at Silverstone. Norris swooped in and answered first, saying:
“I mean, I certainly hope that part’s not going to happen. The British fans are normally very accepting of all of us especially for us as McLaren. [via Sky Sports]
“So I think the first point should be for all the fans to embrace everyone and to support everyone,” he added.
Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, and Max Verstappen have all previously been booed at Silverstone. This was because of their direct on-track rivalry with British fan-favorite Lewis Hamilton.
Norris is also expected to have huge support at Silverstone. This year, he also has a 10,000-seater grandstand in his name at Stowe, named the ‘Landostand’. But the 25-year-old is sure the crowd will not be hostile towards Piastri.
