The 1997 World Champion focuses on the Dutch driver.
The Canadian’s opinion
From -49 to -24: Max Verstappen has cut his gap to Lando Norris in Las Vegas by half, thanks to the double disqualification of the McLarens for excessive floor wear. The Red Bull driver is now less than a win behind Norris with two Grands Prix and a Sprint still to go.
McLaren has always been very strong in Qatar, but the last two editions of the GP were won by Max Verstappen, making him a very dangerous rival for the Woking team. The pressure to not let a Drivers’ Championship slip away — which according to the Constructors’ standings should not be open to anyone else — could weigh heavily on McLaren.
Jacques Villeneuve said that if he had to bet on the Drivers’ Championship winner, he would choose Verstappen: “I would bet on Verstappen,” the Canadian told CanadaCasino.ca, “because he has experience on his side and because McLaren will continue not to favor one driver over the other. This will be a big problem for McLaren, as they will constantly be forced into ‘defensive’ decisions that end up hurting both of their drivers. Moreover, Lando Norris will inevitably be a bit nervous because Verstappen is less than one win behind. In any case, it was positive to see that Norris is ready to show his strength and push back, at least trying. He has never been this aggressive towards Verstappen, like at the start in Las Vegas, and it was great to see that determination.”
With the pressure flipped in the space of one chaotic night on the Strip, the final two rounds promise to deliver one of the most intense championship showdowns in years – and according to Jacques Villeneuve, experience will beat raw speed when it matters most.
Leave a Reply