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Lando Norris enjoyed his best-ever season in F1 on the way to a first world title, but Damon Hill believes we have yet to see the most evolved form of the McLaren star.
After a hard-fought season-long battle with his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris became only the 35th person to have their name etched in F1 history as a world champion.
The British driver had to overcome a 34-point deficit to his papaya-adorned counterpart following the grid’s return from the summer break, and he managed to hit a purple patch at the perfect time in order to secure it.
The title fight began from the very first race of the year. Norris took the plaudits in Melbourne, and it was at that race that Piastri knew McLaren had built a special piece of machinery.
Oscar Piastri’s classy response to losing the title to Lando Norris
Do you think the relationship between Piastri and Norris will last at McLaren? Comment below!
Damon Hill outlines why F1 is ‘yet to see the best’ of Lando Norris after his first world title feat
During an appearance on the Drive to Wynn podcast with former racing driver Justin Bell, Damon Hill touched upon the trajectory that Norris is now on after successfully securing his first world title.
In response to a question regarding what’s next on the agenda for the McLaren star, Hill said, “Win more and more of them, that’s the only thing you can do, really.
Chase after those seven world titles that [Michael] Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton have. I was 36 when I won! I’d had a few close calls in previous years, but I didn’t get to Formula 1 until I was very late.
“He’s 26, he’s been in Formula 1 for… I can’t believe how many seasons he’s already done, seven, I think, and I only did seven seasons in Formula 1.
“But he’s 26, a world champion, and I think drivers become better and better when they’re from 28 to 33, it’s probably their best period. They’ve got the balance of experience, maturity and still have the speed and fitness.
“So yeah, I think we’ve yet to see the best of him. He’s achieved a lot, and he has a very particular kind of personality. He’s someone who very much talks about his feelings and his emotions without gushing about them.
“But he expressed himself when he won the championship, and he expressed it in a brilliant way, I thought. He was speechless and relieved, and he was gracious, and he was thankful to the people that had helped him get there.”
- READ MORE: Lando Norris will be worried about what McLaren staff keep saying privately about Oscar Piastri
Martin Brundle expects Oscar Piastri to have an advantage over Lando Norris next season
Despite Norris coming out on top in 2025, F1 pundit Martin Brundle believes Piastri will be the man to beat at McLaren next season.
The former driver highlighted the Australian’s ‘laser-guided’ overtaking prowess that was on display during the recently concluded campaign.
Qualifying is something that Piastri must work on, given the 13-11 result in favour of Norris in the McLaren teammate head-to-head, but his calculated manoeuvres certainly make up for it.
Whilst not explicitly backing him over Norris, McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes Piastri will be a world champion at some point in his career, tipping him to be a championship protagonist again next season.
Only time will tell if Brown’s prophecy will come to fruition. In the meantime, the Woking-based racing outfit needs to ensure they have a car that is in line with the new regulations, and quick enough to compete for another title.
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