Jacques Villeneuve is very surprised that McLaren F1 ensures that it gives priority to the constructors' championship, over the drivers' crown. The 1997 world champion understands the financial interest of the team title, but points out that the prestige is much less important.
'Lando Norris' luck changed halfway through the race in Brazil because of what happened with the safety car' Villeneuve told Grosvenor Sport. “There is a loophole in the regulations and he paid a heavy price and it was extremely unlucky – there was nothing he could have done with it.”
“Then the pace that Verstappen had in the second half of the race came out of nowhere, which was incredible. It's out of Lando's hands anymore. All he can do is ride hard and fast and hope Red Bull doesn't score.
The Canadian does not believe what McLaren is saying, who assured that the constructors' title was the priority at Woking: “McLaren said the strangest thing after Brazil, that the team's priority was not the drivers' championship, but the constructors' title. It's very strange.”
“That's what the teams who don't win say. Okay, the constructors' title makes you money. But no one cares. People only remember the world champion driver and of the team linked to this world champion.”
“And at the end of the day, in people's minds, this is the team that was world champion. The constructors' championship is only good on paper and for the extra money it brings to the team. That's about it. Apart from the team itself, no one really cares.”
Villeneuve expects to see Verstappen champion in Las Vegas, but he welcomes the ability of Norris and McLaren to delay the inevitable deadline: “Verstappen winning in Vegas, it's a good place to win it if he does! It's an exciting place to win it.”
“The odds are very much in Max's favor. He just has to finish the job. If he wins in Vegas, he will be a very deserving champion. There is no problem. It will still be a great championship .”
“And it was already unexpected to see someone fighting against Red Bull and against Max. Whatever happens until the end of the season, it will have been a great championship and a great battle. And whatever the winner, he will be a deserving champion.”
