Hill explains why Verstappen has "the advantage" over Norris

Verstappen in "a better position" with points in hand

Last time out at the Singapore Grand Prix, Lando Norris dominated proceedings, winning by just under 21 seconds ahead of Verstappen around the Marina Bay Street Circuit, cutting the deficit once again to put more pressure on the Dutchman in the title battle.

However, although Norris is showing the better pace, Hill believes that Verstappen is still in position A: “I think that it’s better to have the advantage and protect it," said the 1996 world champion, speaking on the F1 Explains podcast. 

“You’ve got nothing to lose if you’re chasing, but at the same time, you’re behind. So it’s always a better position to be in, to have those points. In motorsport, there’s tension. You can’t avoid it. So it’s the ability to cope with tension, to cope with pressure, but I think I’d rather have the lead than be trying to get it."

The Brit continued on, drawing a parallel to his title win in 1996 and the current 2024 season. “Max has got it all to lose. It was a similar thing in ‘96 for me because the gap closed up towards the end of the season, and that can be an anxious time. It’s much harder. At one point you think, ‘We’re winning, we’re going to win’. And of course, that is the golden rule in all sports – to not get ahead of yourself. It’s actually keeping your mind in the present and always keeping on the same competitive urge until the flag drops or you get to the end of the season.”

The chance of Verstappen earning his fourth title in a row is still very much in his own hands. If he finishes second every time in the next six races and three sprint races, he cannot be overtaken by Norris. In the closing stages of the season, Verstappen and Norris will surely be calculating how they can win the title, but Hill says it is important to do so before the race and not during it.

“There’s a tactical consideration, but you should never be thinking about the championship and trying to calculate the points when you’re racing because, ultimately, you know the score: you have to stay in front.

“If you score the most points, you’ll win the championship. There may be times when you can concede the lead, or concede the win of a race just to get the points you need to become world champion. You have to do a bit of pre-race calculation as to the possible scenarios. You don’t want to be in a race trying to work it out,” he concludes.

This article was created in collaboration with Corwin Kunst