Villeneuve is skeptical that the rivalry between McLaren will evolve into a 'Senna-Prost' situation.

      "They always appear to be pleased when the other performs better."

      Jacques Villeneuve does not anticipate the burgeoning title rivalry between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at McLaren to transform into a fierce internal battle—at least not at this moment. With McLaren leading the constructors' standings as the August break approaches, attention is now focused on which of the two young drivers will come out on top in the latter part of the season.

      "They always seem happy when their rival succeeds and wins a race," Villeneuve commented to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "It’s a rather unusual scenario. I can’t picture Senna and Prost acting in the same manner, for instance. However, I believe that once they’re certain they’ve clinched the Constructors’ Championship, their true competitive natures will begin to emerge on the track," said the 1997 world champion. "Then the rivalry between them will really intensify. At least, that’s what I hope for!"

      McLaren CEO Zak Brown confirmed to De Telegraaf that the team maintains a "fair and equal racing" policy—upheld by internal 'papaya rules' aimed at avoiding collisions while still fostering competition. "Our drivers are treated equally and fairly," Brown stated. "They determine who becomes the champion, while the constructors’ title will sort itself out."

      However, Brown did acknowledge the potential risks and the associated pressure. "We understand there are risks involved, if that's how you want to view it from a driver’s standpoint, similar to 2007," he noted, referring to the situation between Hamilton and Alonso. "The downside of favoring one driver is that the other might leave."

      Piastri, for instance, was clearly upset after a contentious penalty at Silverstone cost him a victory, but Brown mentioned that the matter was addressed. "Oscar was frustrated after the race at Silverstone, which was completely understandable. I had to ease the tension with him," Brown shared. "I sometimes received unkind messages from fans online. After that race, one message from an Oscar supporter was quite intense. Oscar and I were walking somewhere together, and I showed him the message. He said, 'Hey, you didn’t have to show me that!’" he laughed. "By then, Oscar had already calmed down."

      Another close call occurred last weekend in Hungary, but McLaren still achieved a 1-2 finish. "The tension will only escalate," Brown anticipated, "and they will undoubtedly encounter each other on the track, but I’m confident they won’t intentionally run each other off. 'Racing incidents are simply part of the game.'"