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Very few people know what it’s like to be in the thick of a Formula 1 title battle, not least one involving your team-mate or a generational talent. But Damon Hill does
Damon Hill, having won the Formula 1 championship in 1996, understands the intense pressure of a title battle involving team-mates or exceptional talents like Michael Schumacher. In their podcast Stay On Track, Hill and Johnny Herbert discuss the tight championship fight between McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull performance.
With Piastri losing his championship lead to Norris by one point before the final races, Hill notes the weight of expectations impacting Piastri’s performance. He compares the situation to Nigel Mansell’s 1992 championship, highlighting the need to stay mentally focused without getting ahead of oneself.
Hill reveals his own championship experience, emphasizing the importance of staying in the moment and avoiding distractions. He believes Senna, Prost, and Mansell also had unique approaches to handling the pressure of a title fight.
Hill suggests that Norris and Piastri might have been taken aback by McLaren’s sudden competitiveness this season, adding to the challenge of managing the title fight.
