Supporting Neuville doesn't necessarily mean dropping positions to finish behind him, or doing what Evans and Suninen did this year for Ogier. Loeb could support Neuville by winning rallies or finishing ahead of Neuville's title rivals. Taking pts away from the likes of Ogier and Tanak etc. This helps Hyundai and Neuville.

Evans and Suninen got used in almost humiliating fashion sometimes by Msport this year, but it's only because Suninen is a rookie and Evans had an awful season. They wouldn't have been dropping minor places at the end of rallies, or at the end of days to help with running order, if either were up fighting for the wins. Most of the time they were at the back end of the top 10 or 5th,6th,7th at best. Tanak didn't get asked to do that for Seb at Msport, yet he still "supported" Ogiers title bid because he took pts off Neuville by winning rallies and finishing ahead of him.

Ofcourse if Loeb is 3rd and Neuville 4th, they'd swap positions or anything similar. But I'm sure Neuville wants a team mate who is better than what he's got and can be up there sort of challenging. I believe he's said as much himself? Mikkelsen was meant to be that team mate but Neuville has made him look like a mug most of the season.