Lando Norris should reassess his approach over the off-season if he wants to challenge for the Formula 1 championship in the future, according to 1996 world champion Damon Hill.
Hill, who is stepping down from his punditry role with Sky UK after more than ten years, believes the 25-year-old McLaren driver has the potential but needs to address specific shortcomings.
"He has all the right qualities," Hill said in an interview with Sport Bild. "But Lando needs to be tough on himself after the season and rethink a few things.
"He was too naive in some situations and showed his weaknesses. He needs to learn that for the future. Otherwise, he will never be world champion."
Hill suggested that Norris' primary disadvantage compared to Max Verstappen is psychological.
"He needs to work on himself mentally, above all," said Hill, a 22-time grand prix winner. "Winning is a mental thing. He and the McLaren team need to internalise this.
"They took the first step by winning a few races. Now they need to get away from making mistakes at crucial moments. Lando had a few of them, but you can only allow yourself one, maximum two per season."
According to Hill, Norris must adapt to the unique pressures of a Formula 1 title battle.
"He needs to mature and understand that a battle for the world championship in Formula 1 is not comparable to anything he has done before.
"If you want to be the best of the best, you have to be able to handle the pressure in the spotlight. There is no room for self-doubt. The motto must be 'I am the best, always and everywhere.'"
Hill also highlighted Red Bull's mastery of the mental game, noting that their psychological tactics often unsettle rivals.
Recently, Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko stated that they were fortunate Lewis Hamilton wasn't in Norris' McLaren. Hill sees such comments as part of Red Bull's strategy.
"No team masters these mind games as well as Red Bull," Hill explained. "They know exactly which buttons to push. It is deeply rooted in their DNA. They give everything for success, and this statement is proof of that.
"Helmut would never publicly pay Lewis a compliment like that if he didn't think it would benefit Red Bull."
Hill, who once battled Michael Schumacher for the title, compared Verstappen's mindset to the legendary German driver.
"It's that belief in yourself," he said. "It's like the bumblebee. According to physics, it simply can't fly—but it does it anyway because nobody told it and it believed in itself. That's what sets the real greats apart from the rest. They don't listen to the opinions of others."
While Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until 2028, Hill isn't sure if the Dutchman will break the record of seven world titles held by Schumacher and Hamilton.
"That depends on the team," Hill said. "Max is an exceptionally good driver, but he also needs a car that is capable of winning. I don't know whether that will still be Red Bull in the future.
"If I were him, I'd be looking around. In 2026, the team will be using its own engine for the first time. That's a big question mark.
"But above all, there always seems to be tension in the team. Everyone's putting pressure on everyone else.
"Who is actually the boss? Is it Christian Horner or is it Dr (Helmut) Marko? Is it Max? Is it his father Jos, who is regularly getting involved? All of them are alpha animals who are not afraid of conflict." body check tags ::
