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Jacques Villeneuve did not hold back after the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, accusing McLaren of lacking the grit needed to seriously challenge Red Bull and Max Verstappen.
The 1997 Formula 1 World Champion focused on McLarenโs strategy decisions during a tense Sunday at Imola.
Max Verstappen started behind Oscar Piastri, but quickly passed him and held onto first place until the checkered flag.
Christian Horner, Red Bullโs team boss, said it was surprising how big a gap Verstappen built over both McLaren driversโPiastri and Lando Norrisโespecially on race pace.
Villeneuve, speaking on television after the race, questioned why McLaren seemed nervous about being forceful in its approach.
When Norris closed in on teammate Piastri, who was struggling for grip on older tires, the team hesitated on swapping the drivers.
Villeneuve believed this cost Norris precious laps that could have been spent catching Verstappen.
He argued that McLaren lacked the killer instinct Red Bull routinely shows and said, โItโs like theyโre too hesitant to make the tough calls when it matters.โ
Oscar Piastriโs start was another point of criticism.
Villeneuve mentioned Piastri getting caught โsleepingโ into the first corner, which let Verstappen take control.
After that, Piastri could not match the Red Bullโs pace, while Norris was arguably faster at that stage.
The decision to keep Norris behind left many observers wondering if McLaren prioritized harmony over winning.
Villeneuve commented that Norris would have passed Piastri anyway with fresher tires.
Championship standings after Imola reflect these missed chances.
With Verstappenโs win, Piastriโs lead in the standings was cut to 22 points, while Norris sits 13 behind his teammate.
Villeneuve pointed out that every time McLaren lets small opportunities slip, Verstappen gains an edge in the title battle.
He said McLarenโs tendency to settle for second and third places was handing Red Bull extra points.
He emphasized that a team of McLarenโs caliber needed to be aiming for one-two finishes on strong weekends, as seen during McLarenโs dominant performance at Imola.
Strategy calls during the race, such as pitting Norris sooner than expected and failing to take advantage of a virtual safety car, also drew Villeneuveโs ire.
He argued McLarenโs choices looked timid, especially compared to Red Bullโs more assertive race management.
Villeneuve warned that unless McLaren toughens its approach, Red Bull and Verstappen could continue to pull away as the season progresses.
The next few rounds on the calendar will be telling.
Monaco is up next, known for its tight circuit and limited overtaking, as detailed in the FIAโs official circuit guide.
After that, teams head to Spain and Canada, where strategy usually plays a major role.
McLaren has climbed to the top of the constructorsโ standings, but their lead is under threat with Red Bull and Mercedes close behind.
With 22 races on this yearโs schedule, including classic stops in Silverstone, Suzuka, and Monza, every strategic choice can shape the title fight, as explained in Formula 1โs official sporting regulations.
Villeneuveโs comments have put McLarenโs leadership and decision-making in the spotlight at a crucial juncture of the campaign.
The pressure is mounting to transform strong qualifying results into race wins and to respond quickly when circumstances demand hard decisions.
As the season continues, race fans will be watching closely to see if McLaren can show the determination their rivals expect. For deeper insights into Formula 1 race strategies, MITโs Motorsports Analytics research offers valuable perspectives.
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.