Former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve backs McLaren’s Lando Norris for 2025 drivers’ title

Former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve backs Lando Norris for title, discusses Hamilton at Ferrari and Red Bull struggles.

Former Formula One World Champion Jacques Villeneuve has backed Lando Norris for this year’s driver’s title.

The McLaren driver finished second in the championship last year behind Max Verstappen but was instrumental in his team winning the constructors’ crown. Based on the times from pre-season testing, McLaren will likely be the fastest car heading into the season-opener in Australia this weekend.

“Definitely Lando. McLaren seems to have made a really strong car,” said the 1997 driver’s champion.

“If you just look at their season and how they progressed, they kept making steps forward. Lando was the only driver in the field that could step up to Max (Verstappen) and was on it every race. If he’s still in the same mindset, the season should start strong. We will have to see how it pans out halfway through the season. But the favourite right now is Lando and McLaren.”

Last year Norris and Verstappen came together a few times and Villeneuve, who knows a thing or two about battling aggressive drivers through his experience of beating Michael Schumacher to the 1997 title, believes the British racer did the right thing by standing up to the reigning champion.

Villeneuve and Schumacher had a famous collision in the final race of the 1997 season in Jerez (Spain). The latter deliberately tried to take the Canadian out of the race while being overtaken. While Schumacher retired on the spot, Villeneuve managed to limp home to third and seal his maiden title. Schumacher was thrown out of the championship for trying to take out his rival in that race.

“He didn’t bulge. They ended up clashing in Austria and paid a hefty price, stronger than Max did, but ultimately, he showed Max that he wasn’t going to move and was in there to fight. So, he already did the right thing,” said the former Williams driver.