Jacques Villeneuve has claimed one of the two McLaren drivers gunning for the Formula 1 title has not been acting “like a champion”. The 1997 F1 title-winner’s comment comes as he discussed the incident on the first lap of the Singapore Grand Prix which saw Lando Norris overtake team-mate Oscar Piastri but making contact with the Aussie’s car in the process.
Piastri protested but McLaren denied his request for a position swap, despite the championship leader claiming it was “not fair”. Norris finished ahead of his team-mate and took another small bit out of the gap between them in the standings.
Norris insisted after the race that he had done nothing wrong and that is a stance shared by Villeneuve. “There was a little nudge, nothing meaner. He did slide – he didn’t try to take him off. They are fighting for a championship, they are neck and neck,” the Canadian told Vision 4 Sport, who offer F1 Hospitality.
Villeneuve went on to criticise Piastri for his complaints over the lack of action taken by the team, adding: “Of course, it will be a little bit edgy. He shouldn’t complain about that. Had he put him in the wall, that would have been very different.
“It was a tiny little nudge and not even done on purpose. He should just take it on the chin and make sure you do the same to him at some point! That’s all. Don’t spend 20 laps complaining and whining because it doesn’t make you look like a champion. That’s the problem.”
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While the smart money remains on one of the two McLaren drivers lifting the title at the end of the year, given third-placed Max Verstappen was 63 points behind Piastri heading into the United States Grand Prix weekend, the Dutchman’s outstanding form since the summer break has kept his slim hopes of a fifth consecutive drivers’ crown alive.
There is a significant gap to close but Villeneuve thinks Verstappen has a good chance given McLaren’s declined form of late, and Red Bull’s resurgence. He said: “[Verstappen] is happy, he’s comfortable. He started the season thinking he did not have a shot at the championship so anything would just be a bonus. So why would he stress?
“He’s already got four championships and this year even if he doesn’t win it, he looks above the rest. He’s doing everything he loves outside of the race car. Right now, he has nothing to complain about. There are drivers that have come from further back, when the point system was smaller and the gaps were smaller, but in percentage terms came from further back.
“Of course, it’s not out of the question. No, definitely not. It just takes one race where the two McLarens don’t finish, or have an engine failure, or crash together and that’s it – and then he’s there. It’s still very close. If I was betting, man, I would go for the risky one. I would bet on Max because that makes it fun and exciting.”
