Former Formula One world champion Damon Hill thinks that “nice guy” Lando Norris will be put to the test in the race for the drivers’ championship this year.

Norris is currently 15 points behind championship leader and McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri in the drivers’ standings.

Victory at the Austrian Grand Prix took Norris’ win tally to three this season, four when including sprint races.

The British driver has finished on the podium in nine of the 11 races so far this season, and failed to finish just one.

But Hill feels seeing off the challenge of Piastri will require Norris to show more "steel".

“He's [Norris] talked a lot about his mental approach and his views on things,” said Hill in an exclusive interview with Stats Perform.

“I think there was an element of exposing yourself a little bit too much to your rival and that is Oscar Piastri and also Max Verstappen and at the moment anyway those two guys.

“He's a unique individual, he's an intriguing individual, Lando. I think he's quite quirky and he's a very likeable champ, but he says he wants to be a nice chap and win, and show that nice guys do win.

"I'm always a big supporter of that approach but I think you have to show some steel, some resolve, which makes it clear to those you race against that you're going to be tough to beat. He does it with results but you have to keep banging those results in.

"There's nothing between him and Oscar. Oscar's growing, he's getting stronger. Lando is being really pushed and put to the test. He will be really put to the test this year."

"We are very happy and proud of how they handled the situation"

Andrea Stella is full of his praise for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after a "tense" Austrian Grand Prix #F1 #AustrianGPhttps://t.co/nf6JFUAoIh

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 1, 2025

During his 1996 title-winning campaign, Hill’s closest opponent was Williams’ team-mate Jacques Villeneuve.

Hill finished the season 19 points ahead of Villeneuve and kept good relations with the Canadian driver during their rivalry.

He thinks it will be a similar situation between the McLaren drivers this season.

Hill added: "I was in the same team with another guy who was in contention in the 1996 season, with Jacques Villeneuve. I had to somehow beat him but there not to be some sort of acrimony and to create a situation. So we managed to get through that season unscathed but I think these two guys, Oscar and Lando, they're good sportsmen.

"I think that's the thing, I get the sense that they're very sporting, they want to do it the right way. I'd be surprised if it ends up as a kind of bitter feud within the team."

The new documentary, Hill, will be available on Sky and streaming service NOW in July.