Villeneuve Criticizes McLaren’s Soft Papaya Rules Limiting Norris Piastri Racing

Jacques Villeneuve has criticized Ferrari for not fully embracing Lewis Hamilton's recommendations to improve and mount a championship challenge, noting resistance within the team to Hamilton's fresh approach despite his status as a six-time world champion. Villeneuve urged Hamilton to be blunt about Ferrari's long win drought, which has lasted over 18 years since Kimi Raikkonen's last drivers' title. In the ongoing 2025 F1 season, Villeneuve also condemned McLaren's "papaya rules," which restrict the aggressive competition between teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, likening the team's management style to punishing children and arguing that it undermines their championship fight. He highlighted that while McLaren treats both drivers as equals, the rules have been too soft, preventing a strong, competitive dynamic during the title race. Villeneuve further noted that Norris tends to perform better against Red Bull's Max Verstappen than when competing with Piastri, and emphasized that both drivers should be allowed to race hard for the championship without excessive team intervention.