McLaren sent 'feel the heat' alert as Max Verstappen applies pressure in F1 title fight

1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve believes McLaren can “feel the heat” from Max Verstappen as the Dutchman attempts to make a late surge in the title battle.

Verstappen was not considered a serious factor in the championship battle for much of the year as McLaren enjoyed a strong run of form at the front of the grid.

However, Red Bull has improved its pace since the summer break, with Verstappen taking three wins at the last four grands prix.

He now sits just 40 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri with five rounds remaining in the campaign.

Villeneuve hailed the performances Verstappen has produced of late and asserted McLaren is now firmly looking over its shoulder at the four-time champion.

“You can never write him off,” Villeneuve told Sky F1. “He's the real deal. He's a tough fighter, he never gives up.

“He doesn't crack under pressure. And he actually puts the others under pressure.

“The car seems a little bit easier to drive, and that allows him to set it up in a better fashion.

“So instead of waiting maybe for quali to just be on the pace and to get out of that window easily, now he's always in the window, sometimes a bit faster, a little bit slower, but always in the window.

“The other two drivers, they know that he's there, hunting, pounding and getting closer and closer. They can feel the heat.”

Jacques Villeneuve aims criticism at McLaren 'papaya rules'

Amid Verstappen's surge up the championship table, McLaren has been facing intense scrutiny over “repercussions” enforced on its drivers.

While the team would not elaborate on the conditions, Norris was handed a minor setback in the US for making contact with Piastri on the opening lap of the Singapore Grand Prix.

However, Piastri was deemed at fault for another collision in the US sprint race, causing McLaren to wipe the slate clean for Mexico.

Its approach has been criticised by Villeneuve, who stated: “Papaya rules doesn't really work with strength.

“It doesn't come out as being strong, 'let's go for a championship, we're fighting for it'. 

“It sounds very, very soft, and now it was like two kids being punished in the corner of their room. 

“'You've been a bad boy. You've been a bad boy as well, okay, so now we have a clean slate'. 

“I mean, come on, they're fighting for a championship. Look at Singapore - okay, no risk, [Norris] slid a little bit and they touched wheels. 

“Then we heard 10 laps of complaining. No, that's not on.”