Why McLaren's actions in 2024 have left Villeneuve bemused
F1 News
Jacques Villeneuve can't understand why McLaren prioritised the Constructors' Championship over Lando Norris' hopes of becoming a World Champion himself in the Drivers' World Championship. The 1997 World Champion sees Norris' chances as good as over after the Brazilian Grand Prix.
It's been a debate since the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. There, McLaren ordered Norris to swap positions back with his teammate Oscar Piastri, thus handing over the race victory and costing him seven World Championship points. McLaren explained how an undercut put Norris in that position, and they wanted to undo that move. McLaren, arguably, also could've helped Norris with stronger team orders in other places, such as Monza.
Villeneuve can't understand McLaren's mentality
The Canadian finds it strange that the Woking-based team has put so much emphasis on the Constructors' title. "McLaren said the weirdest thing after Brazil, and that was the team’s priority was not the Drivers' Championship but the Constructors’ title. That is very odd. That's what teams that don't win say. Ok, the constructors' title brings you money. But nobody cares about the constructors’," Villeneuve told Grosvenor Sport.
"People only remember who the world champion driver was and the team was linked to that world champion. And ultimately in people's minds, that's the team that was world champion. The constructors is only good on paper and for the extra money, it brings to the team. That's about it. Outside of the team itself nobody actually cares about it. To me, that shows that they didn't really help Lando out that much," he added.
McLaren are currently leading the Constructors' World Championship, but Ferrari and Red Bull are hot on their heels with just three Grands Prix and one sprint race remaining. Piastri and Norris are defending a 36 point gap to Ferrari, with Red Bull a further 13 points behind.