By James Broughton, September 26, 2024
Yes, I am deliberately twisting Jacques Villeneuve’s words for short-term clickbait, but essentially, that’s what Villeneuve is implying in his latest media interview. Villeneuve was asked to share his opinion on Lando Norris’ chances in the 2024 drivers’ championship.
From an outsider’s perspective, it seems McLaren is not focused on winning the drivers’ title and would rather consistently finish second and third, prioritizing the constructors’ championship instead.
However, in Formula 1, the drivers’ championship has always been the heart and soul of the sport. It is what captivates fans and drives immense public interest.
Piastri The Disrupter
The rise of Oscar Piastri, though, has disrupted the hierarchy within McLaren. One notable example is the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Norris was leading the race but was forced to follow team orders, allowing Piastri to take the win under McLaren’s “Papaya Rules.”
Norris himself has struggled under the pressure of chasing down Verstappen’s lead. Despite having the fastest car on the grid, Norris has barely dented Verstappen’s points advantage, chipping away at it as if with a toothpick.
Villeneuve, however, believes McLaren is largely at fault for not prioritising Norris. In a recent media interview, the 1997 F1 world champion stated:
“McLaren have made a mess of things and it’s too late now,” he said. “It started in Hungary, they have shown real weakness by not giving priority to Norris over Piastri, but we don’t know what Oscar’s contract says.”
“If you look at Monza, it should have been a one-two for McLaren. They lost points as a team and that should never have happened. Norris is the one who is fighting for the Drivers’ championship.”
“Max has changed his approach. He is not trying to win races, but just to rack up points. That shows maturity. The championship is more important than winning individual races.”
“It just needs a bit more from Lando Norris to be more competitive, but it will be a fun end to the season.”
