Villeneuve: If Norris recovers pyschologically he'll be World Champion
F1 NewsMonday, 12 May 2025 at 16:34
In the past three Grands Prix, Lando Norris has gone from preseason favourite for the 2025 Formula 1 title to chasing his very own teammate, Oscar Piastri, but there are still some who believe the Briton will be champion this year.
It is clear at this early stage of the season that this is shaping up to be a shootout between the McLaren pair for this year’s big trophy, as their ultra-effective MCL39 clearly holds a substantial edge over the rest of the field. But who will it be? Norris or Piastri?
The Australian, with far less experience than his teammate, now has more Grand Prix victories to his name, plus a hat-trick of wins so far this season, which has put him on the front foot at this early stage of the campaign. Norris, by contrast, is on the back foot. Increasingly so.
The problem with Norris is not his pace. He’s incredibly quick on Saturdays. But his racecraft remains suspect, especially in the heat of battle with guys like Max Verstappen and even his own teammate. Some even point to his inability to get through backmarkers as quickly and cleanly as the other title contenders.
There’s no need to overanalyse Norris and his faults. He knows them. And perhaps too often, he wears his heart on his sleeve, revealing cracks in his armour that maybe he should keep to himself. Some believe that Piastri's surge in form is playing mind games with Norris.
Villeneuve: I still think Norris has a little bit of an edge
Yet, there are believers. Despite the downturn in his fortunes, and Piastri on a high, Jacques Villeneuve predicts the British driver will be 2025 F1 World Champion.
In an interview, the 1997 Formula 1 World Champion turned pundit told Vision4Sport: “I still think Lando Norris has a little bit of an edge to win the Drivers’ World Championship, if he recovers psychologically. The next two or three races will be very telling for Lando to see what happens with him mentally and how he shapes up.
“Piastri is now at Lando’s level, and he won't go backwards. He might progress just that little bit because he's getting stronger every time. It’s become more of an even battle between the two. How will it affect Norris having lost the lead in the championship race?
“Will it make him the underdog again and make him revert to the Lando of last year? Or will it make him collapse? That's what is hard to read. If it makes him collapse, then okay, Piastri will be champion.”
Psychological pressure and costly mistakes
As for the edge Piastri appears to have over Norris, particularly in race mode, Villeneuve reckons: “I don't think Oscar has got into Lando's head, I think Lando got into his own head. He came in as an underdog last year who was not supposed to win and not supposed to fight for the championship.
“That was easy. There was no pressure. Then it just builds up. Lando spent the whole winter thinking, ‘OK, this will be my big shot. It's next year or never.’ He started the season with a different kind of weight on his shoulders, and he hasn't coped well with that because he's still super quick, but there's the odd moment that is so costly in the championship.
“He’s generally quicker than Piastri, but the points are not there. There are just too many small mistakes, and with the field so close, it means you lose more than one position, you lose maybe five spots. That's a lot of points.
“Lando always seems to be on the back foot. Piastri looks and feels like he belongs there. He is there to fight. I don't think he has changed that much. I think it's more like it has collapsed around him, and he’s just stayed focused and cold.
“Maybe Oscar has taken a small step. But that small step is getting bigger, combined with the other one, namely, Norris is stepping backwards. It is making a big difference,” added Villeneuve.
Imola showdown looms as McLaren’s internal war escalates
Although it is still early days, six races into this season, ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola this weekend, Piastri leads the standings by 16 points, with three victories to Norris's 1.5, when you count the somewhat fortuitous Sprint Race victory in Miami.
But it is by no means over, predicts Villeneuve: “Both Piastri and Norris are completely in the hunt. They didn't do it last year when one driver could win. It doesn't seem that McLaren have it in them to be tough like that.
“Every team that has won in history has it. But McLaren don't seem to have the toughness to make those difficult decisions. There are also contracts in place. Who knows what they stipulate? We can't comment on what we don't know.
“Suzuka was a prime example of a lack of decision-making costing them. Norris was pitted on the same lap as Max Verstappen instead of a lap later. It was obvious to everyone there, or even anyone watching the race, that you actually have to take the chance.
“But then that would have been an unfair advantage on Piastri. So, they didn't go for the win. What is that all about?” questioned the 54-year-old Canadian, a F1 World Champion and IndyCar Champion.
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