Ralf Schumacher urges Oscar Piastri to stop worrying about McLaren ‘rumours’ amid title battle

Follow us on Google Discover

The Formula 1 title race is just over one month from its conclusion and fans are in store for a treat as Max Verstappen attempts a historic comeback.

He’s chasing a McLaren duo who have been way out front in the drivers’ championship all season, enjoying what has been a fairly dominant car. But recently, fortunes have flipped at the Woking-based outfit, and the dynamic within the building has changed.

Oscar Piastri no longer enjoys any advantage at all over teammate Lando Norris, and recently lost the lead at the top of the Formula 1 standings for the first time in over six months. He has lost a lot of the momentum, but is it too late for him to recover it?

McLaren’s team orders are confusing for Norris and Piastri, who have found themselves in close quarters on multiple occasions this year. Piastri appears to have lost his composure, but his early-season performance suggests he could make a comeback at any race. He has it within him.

READ MORE: Damon Hill feels there’s only one possible ‘explanation’ for Oscar Piastri losing his way at McLaren

Ralf Schumacher tells Oscar Piastri to stop worrying about McLaren favouritism ‘rumours’

Piastri may be intimidated by Verstappen, but who wouldn’t be after seeing him reduce a deficit from 104 to 36 points in a matter of weeks? He’s a four-time champion with a strong reputation for a reason, and Piastri is fighting for his first title.

But Ralf Schumacher thinks that the Aussie is spending too much of his energy being concerned about ‘rumours’ concerning his teammate. At this stage in the season, it’s hard to see what McLaren would gain by siding with one of their drivers.

“Therefore, he would be well advised at the moment to concentrate on his job and worry less about whether the team might favour someone – there were rumours about that, but I think it’s absolute nonsense,” Schumacher told Sky Sport DE.

“The team doesn’t care; the main thing is that they become drivers’ world champions. The best one should win. Ideally, they’ll finish first and second. Which one is in front doesn’t matter.”

McLaren won’t use an old-fashioned tactic for Piastri and perform a chassis swap after his confusing dip in performance. It appears that he’s going to have to make up for any drop in speed himself, rather than relying on any new parts.

READ MORE: Andrea Stella knows what ‘can’t happen again’ for Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri to win the F1 title

Why Oscar Piastri can seek advice from the best person in F1 title fight

Piastri’s manager knows an awful lot about being in a title battle with and for Red Bull. Mark Webber came very close to claiming his first crown in 2010.

But, towards the back end of the campaign, his performances tailed off a little bit, leaving him just 14 points shy after Abu Dhabi.

The Aussie was hurt most by a retirement in Korea, but finishing eighth in the season finale didn’t help either. At the time, Red Bull arguably had the fastest car, much like McLaren can do now.

Even if the paddock thinks McLaren favour Norris, it’s the on-track action where the talking can be done. Performing on a Sunday is what matters the most.

Learning from what Webber failed to do could go a long way to helping Piastri. It would bring immense joy not just to him, but his manager as well if they were to be successful in the coming weeks.