Hill says telly show’s remark Lando Norris family were ‘struggling’ on ‘less than a billion pounds’ was ‘pathetic’ as he took to social media to share his thoughts
Damon Hill has slammed TV’s Have I Got News For You for attacking new Brit F1 champ Lando Norris’s privileged upbringing.
The BBC comedy news show’s social media account took a swipe at the new motor racing hero’s rich background after he became the first UK champion since Lewis Hamilton five years ago. It wrote on X: “Lando Norris’ World Championship win is a true Formula one underdog story: he came from relative poverty, with his parents struggling to make ends meet on less than a billion pounds.”
Lanod’s dad Adam boasts an estimated £200m fortune after founding the company Pensions Direct in 1998.
He retired at 36 and has since thrown all of his efforts into supporting his son’s career.
Hill, 65, who was 1996 Formula One world champion, blasted the telly show’s attack as ‘pathetic’.
He replied: “Oh Sweet Jesus. I didn’t expect this from you guys. Really? Pathetic.
“The kid literally had no life other than racing and working towards winning. So we should all start in the slums should we? Like you did. Eh?
“Lets have a closer look at your story…..”
Hill, whose dad Graham was two-time Formula One world champion, himself had a privileged start living in a 25-room country mansion in Hertfordshire and attending The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School.
But his dad’s death in a plane crash in 1975 left the family with drastically reduced fortunes.
Damon worked as a labourer and motorcycle courier to support his career.
Motor racing fans agreed that not every champion had to come from a poor background.
One business growth consultant messaged: “Not every champion needs to come from an economically challenging background.
“I’m a Lewis fan but this take on Lando is mean.
“Lando has lived and breathed racing his entire life. He’s earned his title.
“He’s a fellow Brit & we should be championing our own not bringing them down.”
Another fan wrote: “His parents’ wealth helped him into the sport, but once he was in F1 he had to do it all by himself. He still needed the drive, motivation and sacrifice to become world champion.”
One more said: “Nobody gets to F1 without money behind them. There’s absolutely no point in making rich-boy jokes because every driver on the grid has huge financial backing – it’s impossible to make it big in motorsport without it!”
While another said: “There are some incredibly wealthy drivers on the grid who will never have the results Lando has had because they lack his talent. Money gets them there, but talent is what makes them a winner.”
Both Lando’s dad and mum Cisca were present trackside when he finished third in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to win the world title by two points from defending champion Max Verstappen.
He became Brit motor racing giant McLaren’s first drivers’ champion since Hamilton in 2008 and paid tribute to his parents numerous times in interviews afterwards.
Norris said: “All those years ago when I saw F1 on the TV and I saw a go-kart for the first time, those memories were there on the last couple of laps.
“It took me back to where it all started.
“I wouldn’t be here without my parents, the sacrifices they’ve made, my brothers and sisters, just everything that goes into achieving what we all achieved today.
“This is not my world championship. This is ours.”
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