1997 Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has branded it “odd” that McLaren claimed the Drivers title was “always secondary” to the Constructors’ Championship.
Lando Norris’ title prospects endured a sizeable blow in Brazil last time out as he slipped from pole position to sixth, while Max Verstappen won from 17th on the grid.
That result has seen Verstappen open up a substantial 62-point advantage with three rounds remaining, meaning that he can seal the deal this weekend in Las Vegas.
However, McLaren remains on track to end its championship drought stretching back to 2008 as it harbours a 36-point gap over Ferrari in the Constructors’ standings.
But speaking to Grosvenor Sport, Villeneuve has argued that McLaren’s priorities are all wrong as the Drivers’ Championship is the one regarded as the grandest prize.
“McLaren said the weirdest thing after Brazil, and that was the team’s priority, which was not the Drivers’ Championship but the Constructors’ title,” Villeneuve said.
“That is very odd. That’s what teams that don’t win say.
“Ok, the Constructors’ title brings you money. But nobody cares about the Constructors’.
“People only remember who the World Champion driver was and the team was linked to that World Champion.
“And ultimately in people’s minds, that’s the team that was World Champion.
“The Constructors is only good on paper and for the extra money, it brings to the team. That’s about it. Outside of the team itself nobody actually cares about it.”
Verstappen would be a ‘deserving champion’
Villeneuve believes McLaren’s stance indicates it “didn’t really help Lando out that much” this season, as the Canadian backed Verstappen to clinch the championship.
“Verstappen winning in Vegas, that’s a good place to win it if he does! It’s an exciting place to win it,” he added.
“The odds are very much in Max’s favour. He’s just got to go get around and finish. If he does win it in Vegas, he’ll be a very deserving champion. No issues there.
“It will still have been a great championship. And it was already unexpected to have someone bring the fight to Red Bull and to Max.
“Whatever happens till the end of the season, it will still have been a great championship and a good battle. And whichever of the two wins, they’ll be a deserving champion.”
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