"The guy has more guts than any of us": Former F1 champion Damon Hill lauds Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Former F1 world champion Damon Hill has publicly praised Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following the latter’s high profile meeting with President Donald Trump in Florida on Monday. Zelenskyy met Trump as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts related to the war in Ukraine.

Footage from the press conference featuring both world leaders quickly circulated on social media. In the clip, Zelenskyy appeared visibly uncertain as Trump stated that Russia wanted to see Ukraine succeed, a remark that sparked widespread discussion online given the ongoing conflict between the two nations.

Reacting to the video, Damon Hill voiced his support for the Ukrainian leader on X, highlighting the courage that has taken him through such an intense affair with the world's eyes on him. The 1996 F1 world champion, who has been outspoken on political and humanitarian issues in the past, shared his thoughts in a post on social media.

"Trump has a bust of Churchill in his office. He should have one of Zelensky too. The guy has more guts than any of us," he wrote.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Zelenskyy has become a prominent international figure, often lauded for remaining in the country and directly engaging with global leaders to secure continued support. The Florida meeting marked another significant moment in Zelenskyy’s diplomatic calendar, as he continues to push for sustained political and military backing from Western allies.

Trump’s comments during the meeting, however, were met with mixed reactions, particularly from those who felt they downplayed the ongoing realities of the conflict.

At the meeting, Trump and Zelenskyy discussed peace efforts aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, with Trump saying a deal could be closer than ever, though major issues such as security guarantees and territorial disputes remain unresolved. Both leaders agreed that further talks with European partners are planned in the coming weeks.

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Damon Hill reflects on McLaren’s driver management during 2025 title fight

Damon Hill interviews Lando Norris at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix - Source: Getty

Damon Hill has questioned the approach taken by McLaren during the 2025 title fight, suggesting that their handling of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri could have cost them in the championship battle.

Speaking on the Chequered Flag podcast, Hill was asked whether he ever doubted McLaren’s philosophy of allowing their drivers to race freely. The Briton drew parallels with his own experience at Williams in 1995, when he and David Coulthard were both fighting Michael Schumacher for the drivers' title.

Hill explained that he disagreed with team boss Frank Williams at the time, particularly as he was leading the championship and felt team strategy should have supported his title push.

"I just didn’t need to have a teammate who was going to take points from me. And he insisted that they're a race team and they provide the car to the drivers and they sort it out themselves," Damon Hill said.

He added that while Williams prioritised the constructors’ championship, the drivers’ title carried greater prestige. Reflecting on both eras, Damon Hill admitted he never fully understood the logic behind allowing internal competition to outweigh a clear title strategy, especially when a drivers’ championship was within reach.

In the end, for McLaren in 2025, they just about got over the line with Lando Norris, who secured the title by just 2 points from Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

Edited by Mitali