Former champion Jacques Villeneuve believes that Oscar Piastri has some notable clauses in his contract. For instance, McLaren is not allowed to give preferential treatment to his teammate, Lando Norris. In the past, there was much discussion about the role distribution within McLaren and the much-debated ‘papaya rules’. According to Villeneuve, Piastri currently has free rein to compete with his British counterpart.
“He (Piastri) has a contract that protects him,” Villeneuve told CardPlayer. “As long as both drivers can win the title, there will be no team orders. Only if something major is at stake in the constructors’ championship or if one of them has a problem in the race, the team will intervene – as was the case last year.” The 1997 world champion emphasizes that McLaren now has a strong starting position. Both drivers can handle the car well, which allows them to control the championship.
However, Villeneuve sees clear differences between Piastri and Norris. The latter is said to always struggle with the front of the car. “He uses his front tires a bit too much,” the Canadian explained. “The circuit in China generated a lot of understeer, causing him to wear out his tires. He would always struggle there.” Norris finished second in Shanghai, behind Piastri.
Internal Title Fight?
“The difference between first and second place is significant, especially in terms of points,” Villeneuve continued. “That’s why it was so important for Norris to keep scoring as many points as possible. He knows that Piastri poses a long-term threat to his title chances,” Villeneuve pointed out sharply. “In the end, it’s always hardest when your closest rival happens to be your teammate.”
Who is Villeneuve betting on? “Piastri handled the pressure better in China than Norris,” he responded. “Norris was faster all weekend, but when it mattered, he made a few crucial mistakes in qualifying. As a result, his race didn’t go optimally. Piastri stayed cool and got the most out of his weekend. He had a good qualifying, a strong start, and performed well in the lead.” Unlike other analysts, Villeneuve wants to temper expectations. He doesn’t foresee an internal title fight à la Lewis Hamilton-Rosberg or Fernando Alonso-Hamilton. “There’s no question of that,” he concluded.
