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McLaren have a difficult task on their hands this season: defend their double world championship-winning season in the midst of one of the biggest regulatory overhauls in F1 history, and Ralf Schumacher has explained why he can’t see it happening.
Following years of the drivers’ championship being dominated by talents from Mercedes and Red Bull, Lando Norris was able to bring the title home to Woking following 17 years of disappointment for McLaren fans.
It marked the British driver’s first world title in the pinnacle of single-seater motorsport, as well as Zak Brown’s first success in the individual category since joining the team in 2016.
However, the season was marked by several instances that involved McLaren imposing team orders on their high-flying driver line-up.
F1 fans made their feelings clear on McLaren’s management of the situation, often booing Norris during his podium appearances in the aftermath.
Max Verstappen was arguably the biggest loser of the debacle in the grand scheme of things, and the Red Bull star suggested that Oscar Piastri sold his ‘soul’ by abiding by what his higher-ups were telling him to do.
- READ MORE: McLaren expecting Australian GP ‘performance bump’ after using ‘lesser’ Mercedes engine in testing
McLaren top the mileage charts after Bahrain testing 🏎️
But do any of these totals change your expectations for the season? 🤔
Ralf Schumacher warns McLaren about their team orders ‘costing’ them in 2026
In an interview with Bild, former F1 driver turned pundit Ralf Schumacher was asked a series of questions regarding his thoughts on the biggest narratives surrounding the upcoming campaign.
The first question that he fielded referred to whether McLaren would be able to continue to be the benchmark following their back-to-back feats in the constructors’ championship.
The 50-year-old simply can’t see it happening straight away, highlighting that the Woking-based outfit will need to have worked on its way of managing Norris and Piastri.
“I can’t imagine McLaren’s dominance from last year will return immediately,” he said.
“And if you let things play out internally like they did last year, it can end up costing you serious points. Both teams are performing at a similar level – the risk of conflict is high.”
Schumacher is, of course, referring to McLaren’s use of team orders last season.
While many expected them to backfire on the British constructor at the end of the season, Norris still managed to claim the drivers’ world title over Max Verstappen by just two points.
Norris has hinted that several conversations have taken place at McLaren to help the pit-wall, as well as the drivers, during high-pressure moments in which results may benefit from the use of an intervention.
- READ MORE: Ruth Buscombe saw Oscar Piastri ‘suffer’ from tyre deg during his race sim at 2026 F1 Bahrain test
Doubts are rising at McLaren and Red Bull about pace, but who’s really the weak link in the big four?
McLaren have been tipped to be front-runners again in 2026 due to Mercedes’ impressive power unit
While the early forecasts put McLaren somewhere in the bottom half of F1’s big four for 2026, they have been tipped to benefit greatly through their engine partnership with Mercedes.
Due to the new regulations being dominated by a brand-new engine formula, it has been suggested that the works teams will be at least one step ahead of their customers in 2026.
Of course, the teams that are developing the engine also have the luxury of synergising the chassis with the power unit during every step of development.
It has been suggested that McLaren’s new gearbox will be the difference between them falling short of Mercedes, or going on to humiliate them again as the more superior team to utilise the German constructor’s engine.
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