Villeneuve blasts McLaren for causing Norris and Piastri 'problem'

Lando Norris was "hindered" by McLaren in his F1 drivers' championship charge last season, according to Jacques Villeneuve.

The Canadian labelled what he views as the Woking-based squad's hesitancy to aim for that title as a "problem" for its drivers, both of which will have championship aspirations heading into the 2025 campaign.

The season kicks off with Oscar Piastri's home event in Melbourne and the papaya team head into the round at Albert Park has the favourites for not only the weekend, but the entire year.

Norris is the bookmakers' favourite in the drivers' championship, too, but Villeneuve is concerned that without a coherent strategy McLaren risks facilitating a situation where the pair "chop points from each other."

Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella ardently maintained their 'two number 1 drivers' policy for as long as possible last season, before ultimately throwing weight behind Norris after making a mess of papaya rules at the Italian Grand Prix.

However, it was too little, too late and the British driver never got within striking distance of eventual champion Max Verstappen, who took the title by 63 points.

"The only problem with McLaren is they didn't seem to be too keen on really trying to go for the drivers’ championship last year," Villeneuve told Yaysweepstakes. "They didn't really help Norris. He even got hindered somehow."

"So, I don't know how this will pan out this year. What's the balance there? They just chop points from each other."

Villeneuve: Piastri needs to up his game

Nonetheless, Villeneuve insists Piastri needs to up baseline of performance and challenge Norris more consistently over the campaign ahead.

The 11-time grand prix winner pinpointed that as the main differentiating factor between the two McLaren team-mates.

"Piastri needs to step up on a race-to-race basis," the 1997 F1 drivers' champion said.

"There's always been glimpses from Piastri that make you say: 'wow, amazing' but he didn't stay up there at that level whereas Norris was always up there. That's the difference."