1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve does not believe Max Verstappen will challenge for the drivers' title this year.
Verstappen enters the season looking to secure his fifth consecutive championship.
It's a feat that has been achieved just once before by Michael Schumacher, who was undefeated from 2000 to 2004.
Verstappen's title win in 2024 came despite Red Bull slipping to third in the constructors' championship, with McLaren and Ferrari jumping to first and second respectively.
Villeneuve has backed McLaren to fight at the front once again this year - but suggested the Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri partnership could create issues for the team.
“The way the season ended I would have put the dice a little bit more on Lando and McLaren,” Villeneuve told Action Network.
“But the issue there will be the internal battle between the two drivers. McLaren has not and will not handle that well and they will eat each other's points away.
“So even though they probably should be the champion, they might not be.”
Villeneuve supports Hamilton for title charge
While McLaren's driver line-up remains unchanged, Ferrari has gone through a major alteration with Lewis Hamilton joining Charles Leclerc at the Italian team.
The 40-year-old is seeking a new challenge as he aims to add an unprecedented eighth F1 title to his list of achievements.
Villeneuve has asserted Hamilton has the ingredients to challenge for the top prize as he opted not to list Red Bull as a contender when asked who would win the championship this year.
“Lewis could have a shot at it,” Villeneuve said. “He finished on a high note [in Abu Dhabi]. It will be an interesting battle between Lewis and Leclerc.
“You see what's come out in the media at the moment, Ferrari is really pushing Lewis right now. There's a big image happening.
“Either he's pushed and it's amazing. And if it's not, then it will pump Leclerc up. So basically it's win-win for Ferrari right now.
“Lando should be the natural one fighting for the championship. But the internal battle and the fact that McLaren doesn't seem to handle this internal rivalry in a very positive way, then it might fall more into Lewis' hands, seeing how Ferrari ended up last season.”
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