Jacques Villeneuve Slams Lando Norris: “He Collapses Under Pressure”
So, there’s been a lot of buzz after the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix qualifying session, and it’s not just about Oscar Piastri’s pole position—though that in itself was impressive. What’s really making headlines is Jacques Villeneuve’s brutal take on Lando Norris and his performance in qualifying. And honestly, it’s hard to ignore when a former World Champion like Villeneuve speaks so bluntly.
Let’s set the scene: McLaren was looking sharp all weekend. Both Norris and Piastri were on fire during practice, so expectations were sky-high for qualifying. It seemed like it would come down to a tight battle between the two McLaren drivers and Max Verstappen. But when it really mattered—what Villeneuve calls “money time”—Piastri delivered with a strong and composed lap, taking pole. Norris? He stumbled, ending up fourth, nearly three-tenths behind his teammate.
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And that’s where Villeneuve’s comments sting. He didn’t hold back, saying Norris “collapses every time there’s a bit of pressure.” According to him, Lando loses his flow in these crucial moments and makes small but costly errors that compound quickly. It’s a tough verdict, especially for someone who was known for qualifying brilliance just last year.
What’s more frustrating for Norris is that he knows it, too. After the session, he admitted his final lap just wasn’t good enough. He said he felt good in Q1 and Q2, but couldn’t find the edge when it counted. He’s not blaming the car—he’s putting it on himself. That’s admirable, but also telling. Norris has always been a self-aware and emotionally grounded driver, but even he can’t hide that this year’s qualifying struggles are getting to him.
Villeneuve also pointed out the psychological side of it—how pressure seems to disrupt Norris’ natural rhythm. That’s a massive concern in a sport where milliseconds matter and confidence is everything. Yet, interestingly, Villeneuve did offer a glimmer of hope. He said Norris seems much calmer in races, where the intensity is spread out and drivers aren't on the edge every second like they are in qualifying. So perhaps Sunday's race at Imola could be Norris' chance to bounce back and show he can still deliver under different kinds of pressure.
Still, with Piastri pulling ahead not just in qualifying but also in race wins—and now sitting 16 points clear in the standings—the heat is definitely on. Norris is no longer the undisputed top dog at McLaren. The dynamic has shifted, and that adds even more pressure.
This moment could define Lando’s season. Does he rise to the challenge, adapt, and rediscover his qualifying form? Or does Piastri continue to build momentum and tighten his grip on the intra-team battle? Either way, this storyline has added another layer of drama to the 2025 Formula 1 season.
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