As the championship heads to São Paulo, Max Verstappen sits 36 points behind Norris. Meanwhile, Piastri’s recent struggles have become a key talking point for two former Formula 1 world champions — Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve — who were teammates at Williams back in 1996. Villeneuve, who claimed the title the following year, shared his candid thoughts on the young McLaren driver’s situation and the mental strain he appears to be under.
“We are witnessing a complete collapse of Oscar Piastri, which is crazy,” Jacques Villeneuve told PokerStrategy. “It’s the effect of pressure when you’re forced to accelerate your performance and start reacting differently. It all began in Baku, but you could already see the signs in his overall driving — even in small details, like the grid mistake. From that weekend on, it was clear he wasn’t in the right headspace.”
The Canadian added that as the season draws to a close, the intensity grows exponentially. “The closer you get to the end of the championship, the more the pressure increases — and not just the level of pressure, but the nature of it. Suddenly, you realize you could lose what you already have: the championship lead. The opportunities are slipping away, and it’s always difficult being the one being chased. The best example is when you’re running: if you keep looking back, you’ll trip and slow down. That’s what we’ve seen happening to him.”
Villeneuve went on to point out that Verstappen and Red Bull have also stepped up their game during this crucial phase. “It’s happened gradually, while at the same time Red Bull and Max have made a step forward — not just in terms of points, but also in speed and performance. Both McLaren drivers and the team know that Max is a force of nature. When he’s coming at you, he’s unstoppable, and that adds even more pressure. Even Norris had a bad weekend in Baku, and that was a golden opportunity for him that he failed to seize.”
The 1997 world champion was quick to dismiss the notion that McLaren’s internal dynamics were to blame for Oscar Piastri’s downturn. “There has never been any favoritism or special treatment towards Lando,” Villeneuve stated firmly. “The collapse is evident, but it has nothing to do with favoritism. I’m sure Mark Webber, Oscar Piastri’s manager, is doing everything he can to guide him in the right direction — to keep him strong and remind him that he cannot fall apart like this.”
Jacques Villeneuve also underlined the importance of this phase for both driver and team in light of Formula 1’s upcoming rule changes. “Mark knows that this could be their only real chance under the current regulations,” he said. “Nobody can be sure if McLaren will have the fastest car again once the new regulations come into effect next year. That uncertainty adds to the pressure, because opportunities like this don’t come around often.”
As the F1 season enters its decisive stretch, all eyes will be on Interlagos, where McLaren’s internal battle continues and Oscar Piastri will try to regain his early-season composure. With Verstappen closing in and the championship tension rising, the next few races could define not only the title fight but also Piastri’s ability to handle pressure at the highest level.
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