“Piastri Disadvantaged by McLaren?” Jacques Villeneuve Doesn’t Buy It

1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has shut down that narrative. “Piastri wasn’t disadvantaged. He lost the title to himself,” Villeneuve told Sky Sports. He argues that Piastri’s late-season slump, complacency, and self-inflicted errors—not team bias—cost him the championship.

The Collapse: From 34-Point Lead to 3rd Place

Piastri’s 2025 season started as a fairytale, leading the championship for 15 consecutive rounds. However, the wheels came off spectacularly after the summer break.

Villeneuve’s Verdict: “He Got Complacent”

Villeneuve points to a mental shift as the decisive factor. While Norris fought for every point with hunger, Piastri appeared to lose his edge. « When all you have to fight is your teammate, maybe you don’t push to that last tenth of a second. Piastri got complacent. He thought the title was his—and stopped digging deeper. »

The “Papaya Rules” Debate

McLaren’s “equal treatment” policy became a hot topic, but Villeneuve insists there is no evidence of bias. “Had Piastri been a second faster than Norris all season, but his car kept breaking down, then you could say it’s unfair. But that wasn’t the case.”

Villeneuve argues that the McLaren car didn’t change; Piastri simply « maxed out » his ability mid-season while Norris found another gear. “Lando had to fight for every point. He was angry, hungry, and precise when it counted.”

“The team’s philosophy is fairness. If they favored Norris, why did Piastri lead for 15 races?”
— Jacques Villeneuve

What This Means for 2026

Villeneuve’s analysis carries a warning for Piastri’s future. With the new 2026 regulations resetting the grid, he predicts a tougher challenge. “If he doesn’t reset mentally, Norris will eat him alive again.”

The conclusion is clear: Piastri didn’t lose the 2025 title to McLaren politics—he lost it to himself. As McLaren prepares for 2026, the question is whether Piastri can turn this frustration into the killer instinct required to become a champion.