Max Verstappen has been cautioned about "golden child" Oscar Piastri being on the positive side of stewarding "imbalance" as the F1 drivers' title fight intensifies this season.
Jacques Villeneuve believes the Dutchman will be on the receiving end of penalties from the FIA the McLaren driver would not be, something he highlighted will be a "big help" to the six-time grand prix winner as he pursues his first crown.
Focusing on Piastri, the 1997 drivers' champion highlighted the influence of Mark Webber in assisting the Australian in absorbing the pressure of a title battle.
The 24-year-old has been unflappable in his early dealings with Verstappen, clinically dispatching of the Red Bull driver en route to victory in both Saudi Arabia and Miami, with has heavily aided him in setting up a 16 point lead over team-mate Lando Norris in the standings.
"Oscar Piastri doesn’t seem to be affected by pressure and he's got a good mentor in Mark Webber," Villeneuve remarked to Vision4Sport.
"He is somebody Oscar can lean on. I wouldn’t go as far as to say father-figure, but there's this balance, this energy in place between them and that's super helpful.
"Piastri is loved. He's like the golden child right now. If something happens, he won’t be given penalties as easily as Max Verstappen is, for instance. That's also a big help in fighting for a championship."
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Lewis Hamilton comparison
Although Norris also poses a significant threat to Piastri in the bid for championship honours, the Canadian drew parallels to the last great intra-team title fight - between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rsoberg at Mercedes - to underline the difficulties facing Verstappen.
"It reminds me of when we had Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg fighting for the championship," the 54-year-old added.
"If they made the same move, Nico would get a penalty. In the following race, if Lewis made the same move, he wouldn't be penalised.
"There is this slight imbalance which is human and Piastri is on the right side of the balance."
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