The 1996 Formula 1 world champion strongly believes in the qualities of the McLaren driver.
A new number one
In the 2026 Formula 1 season, it will be Lando Norris who carries the number 1 on the nose of his McLaren, following the world championship title he secured in last season’s campaign. However, the upcoming regulatory overhaul is set to reshuffle the competitive order, and those who previously enjoyed a clear advantage may no longer find themselves consistently at the front as they were in recent years.
Lando Norris’ talent
Norris is now a world champion and proved his class by claiming the title after mounting a comeback against his teammate Oscar Piastri, who at one stage during the 2025 season appeared to be the clear favourite. The British driver then kept his composure in the final Grand Prix of the year, despite strong pressure from Max Verstappen during the closing stages of the championship fight.
Damon Hill, the 1996 Formula 1 world champion, shared his thoughts on Lando Norris’ future during an episode of the Stay on Track podcast, where he made a bold prediction about the McLaren driver’s potential. Damon Hill said: “He’s done it and now he can be more relaxed. It’s about seeing how much drive he still has to go on and achieve further success. I think Lando can win more than one world championship, he could get to three or four.”
Ahead of the 2026 F1 season, the pressure on the reigning champion remains high. Carrying the number 1 brings a different kind of scrutiny, but if Damon Hill’s instincts are correct, we are witnessing the rise of one of the sport’s all-time greats. Whether McLaren can provide him with the machinery to match those three or four titles remains the biggest question of this new technical cycle, but Norris has already proven he has the talent to deliver when the stakes are highest.
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