McLaren’s ‘panic’ F1 strategy slammed as Norris loses out to Verstappen in Japan

McLaren’s decision to pit Norris on the same lap as race winner Verstappen was criticised by 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve in Suzuka

Max Verstappen took the win in Japan ahead of Lando Norris (Getty Images)

Jacques Villeneuve criticised McLaren’s F1 strategy in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix as Max Verstappen claimed victory at Suzuka.

Pole-sitter Verstappen maintained the net lead throughout the entire 53-lap race, holding off a late charge from McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Norris and Verstappen almost collided coming out of their pit stops on lap 22, while PIastri pitted a few laps earlier.

Yet 1997 world champion Villeneuve was puzzled by McLaren’s strategy, given both their cars were in the mix for the win, and mainly the decision to pit Norris at the same time as leader Verstappen.

Commentating for Sky Sports F1, Villeneuve said on McLaren’s pit-stop strategy: “You’re trying not to win, you need a winning attitude. You need to want to win, you cannot just be on the defensive.

“[They were] completely panicking, being afraid of doing what might be right.”

Sky F1 colleague and ex-driver Anthony Davidson agreed with Villeneuve, saying: “They’ve followed the plans of Red Bull.

“I don’t understand why at least one of them didn’t have free air [not pit and stay out in front.”

Yet McLaren team principal Andrea Stella defended his team and their tactical approach, insisting staying out with Norris was “not possible.”

Jacques Villeneuve was critical of McLaren’s strategy in Kapan (Getty Images)

“We saw that staying out would have not been faster,” he said. “We saw from Russell, he was very fast... there wasn’t a possibility to go for the overcut. Today, it was not possible.

“The degradation is now very low, it gets very difficult to overtake if you’re on the same strategy.”

Mercedes teen Kimi Antonelli led a section of the race as he pushed his tyres to the limit before pitting, while Norris stayed behind Verstappen throughout, despite the tight incident on pit-exit between the two championship protagonists.

It was Verstappen’s fourth win in a row in Suzuka, while he cut the gap to Norris in the world championship to one point after three rounds of the 2025 season.