Why Norris and Piastri are in for a long F1 season according to F1 champion

21:15, 26 May

Updated: 21:27, 26 May

byToby Nixon

On the F1 Chequered Flag podcast, Damon Hill reflected on the pressures of leading a world championship and utilised a unique analogy to describe the evolving rivalry between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

A different kind of pressure at the top

Hill, a former world champion himself, felt that Oscar Piastri did not have a flawless weekend. The Australian finished in third and now leads the world title by just three points. The 1996 world champion highlighted the mounting pressure of leading the world championship.

"Maybe we're looking at the same effect that affected Lando when he was leading the championship is that once you're actually holding the baby, it suddenly becomes a whole different game," he began.

"Once you're talking about a world championship, a whole new world of issues starts coming into play. And leading the championship, if you start thinking to yourself, you wake up in the morning and go, 'I'm leading the world championship, I actually could win the World Championship. Oh my God.' You know, that can affect you."

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Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri earlier this season

Team dynamic creates more pressure

Hill observes that both drivers are contending for a world championship for the first time, which naturally brings pressure. But beyond that, he points out an added layer of complexity — they’re teammates. According to Hill, this internal rivalry adds another dimension to the championship battle.

"So I think there's this dynamic that we're going to see played out throughout the year. And there will be more and more pressure. And so I think that Oscar maybe overplayed his hand slightly, and went at it a little bit too aggressively this weekend. Whereas, I don't know if you noticed, but Lando seemed to stay out of trouble the whole weekend and just got on with his job and seemed to sneak up on it. And then finally came to the last few runs in qualifying."

The British driver took pole and appeared to be the strongest McLaren driver throughout the whole weekend.

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Lando Norris after his victory in the Monaco Grand Prix

Hill notices a key psychological difference

Damon Hill also notes a key psychological distinction between being the one hunted and being the hunter. He likens it to a golf championship, where a player can lead for several days but still falter at the end. This dynamic, he suggests, could play a crucial role in the ongoing title fight, which he expects to go down to the wire this season.

"Yeah, I think it's very difficult to stay out in front. It's a bit like golf, leading a championship for four days. The pressure at the end of it is just ridiculous. So in a way, it is easier to kind of close in on the guys, but you're not going to willingly put yourself in second place.

"But Lando, as you said, is only three points behind now, so he's really hot on Oscar's heels. And, it's going to ebb and flow I think for the rest of the year," the former world champion concluded.