‘Messy since Baku’: Villeneuve points to confidence crisis for Piastri

The Formula 1 title battle is heating up, but for leader Oscar Piastri, the wheels are wobbling at a critical moment according to keen observer Jacques Villeneuve.

The Sky F1 pundit and 1997 world champion Jacques sees a troubling trend is plaguing the McLaren driver’s campaign which continues this weekend in Mexico City.

With just five races left in the 2025 season, Piastri’s once-comfortable lead is shrinking fast, and Villeneuve believes the cracks that appeared in Azerbaijan are still haunting him.

After a lacklustre Friday practice at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Piastri found himself trailing both title rivals – Max Verstappen and teammate Lando Norris – and could manage only 12th fastest.

His McLaren looked off balance, and he ended the session almost nine-tenths down on Verstappen’s benchmark time.

‘His driving has been messy since Baku’

Speaking after Friday’s opening day of running in Mexico City, Villeneuve suggested that Piastri’s crash-strewn weekend in Baku was an inflection point that has quietly eroded his confidence.

“It’s a continuation for Oscar,” the Canadian told Sky Sports F1. “We didn’t hear a lot of confidence.

“His driving has been messy since Baku, that can make a tenth or two difference, a little mistake here and there and it gets to your head.

“Seeing Max at the front, that’s going to eat him all evening. If you’re running and looking backwards, things go wrong and that’s what’s happening.”

The Canadian went further, warning that Piastri’s problems may not lie with McLaren’s package at all.

“It might not be down to the car, the driver just needs to be a little bit tense behind the wheel and that’s it - it’s gone,” Villeneuve explained.

“He doesn’t feel the car anymore, doesn’t drive it smoothly, starts making mistakes. Then the set-up that usually works is no good. He just needs to get back into that relaxed place and he doesn’t seem to be into it.”

‘Papaya Rules don’t work with strength’

Villeneuve also turned his attention to McLaren’s internal dynamics, arguing that the team’s attempts to manage its two title contenders have been counterproductive.

On the so-called “Papaya Rules” that saw Norris reprimanded for a clash with Piastri in Singapore, Villeneuve didn’t hold back.

"Papaya rules doesn't work with strength - let's come out and fight for a championship," he said.

"It was like two kids being punished in the corner of their room. You've been a bad boy; you go to your room. Oh, you've been a bad boy. OK, now we have a clean slate – I mean, come on!

"They are fighting for a championship. Look at Singapore, OK Norris tapped the car in front, slid into Oscar, then we heard 10 laps of complaining. That's not on."

• Read also: McLaren drivers chasing consistency amid balance woes in Mexico

For Villeneuve, McLaren’s drivers should be unleashed – not micromanaged – as both have proven they can deliver at the sharp end.

"They are both number one drivers. There's a time in the season Piastri was a bit faster, ultimately Norris is a bit stronger. They both collapsed in Baku but then he bounced back.

"Norris is a better driver when he's fighting Max, a lot better than when he's fighting his team-mate."

As Villeneuve suggests, Piastri’s title charge may depend less on upgrades or tyre strategies and more on rediscovering his own calm behind the wheel.

As the season tightens, one slip could turn a lead into a chase – and Villeneuve suspects the Australian can already feel Verstappen breathing down his neck.

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