1997 F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve doesn’t hold back his criticism towards Oscar Piastri for his ‘nasty’ move against Lando Norris during the Canadian Grand Prix. The clash between the two McLaren drivers shook the race as Norris ended up crashing into the pit wall, while Piastri managed to continue unscathed, securing a fourth-place finish.
Villeneuve pointed out that Piastri’s gradual movement towards the left to block Norris was questionable, labeling it as ‘nasty’ and hinting at internal discussions within the team. The incident unfolded as Norris attempted an aggressive overtake on Piastri, leading to a collision that ended Norris’s race and widened the points gap between the two drivers in the championship standings.
Despite Norris taking immediate responsibility for the incident and receiving praise for his accountability from McLaren CEO Zak Brown and team boss Andrea Stella, Villeneuve’s perspective diverges significantly. He criticized the race stewards’ decision to penalize Norris with a five-second penalty, emphasizing the need for a more thrilling conclusion to the race, potentially through a red flag instead of a safety car finish.
The differing opinions among key figures in the McLaren team and Villeneuve’s bold remarks add fuel to the controversy surrounding the Piastri-Norris clash, stirring debate among fans and experts alike. As the F1 season progresses, the aftermath of this incident and its impact on the drivers’ dynamics will be closely monitored by the motorsport community.
