Ralf Schumacher warns that Zak Brown could soon go back on his word to Oscar Piastri at McLaren

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Oscar Piastri arrives at this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix 24 points behind McLaren teammate Lando Norris. Unless he makes a significant dent in that lead, Norris will be well-placed to seal the world championship at the penultimate round in Qatar.

Every recent weekend has been critical for Piastri, but this is the first time that his title chances are at risk of crumbling altogether. Since he won the Dutch GP to open up a 34-point lead over Norris, who failed to finish, there has been a 58-point swing in just six weekends.

Piastri now sits virtually equidistant from leader Norris and third-place Max Verstappen (25 points). Verstappen effectively ruled out winning the title after losing ground in Brazil, but it still feels as if McLaren need to land the knockout punch.

McLaren are anxious about the Las Vegas GP, a race where they finished sixth and seventh last season. They expect this to be one of their weakest circuits, giving Verstappen one last chance to claw his way back into the fight.

Oscar Piastri risks being relegated to number-two status at McLaren

Speaking on Sky Germany’s Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Ralf Schumacher spelled out the danger facing Piastri in Vegas. The gap to Norris will simply be ‘too big’ to overcome if his slump continues.

And if Verstappen gains ground, McLaren may be forced to make Norris their number-one driver for the last two races.

Zak Brown is adamant that McLaren won’t play favourites at any stage, but it’s easier to take that stance when the scenario is strictly hypothetical.

Indeed, Martin Brundle isn’t convinced by Brown’s promise as McLaren seek their first championship double since 1998.

“Piastri clearly has to step up now,” said Schumacher. “He knows that. He’s losing ground now, and I was almost going to say that if something so clear happens again, the difference will be too big.

“If Max Verstappen is given another small chance for some reason, the team will probably say at some point that the number one is now fixed, because we’re not going to take that risk anymore, and of course Piastri wants to avoid that if at all possible.”

Alan Jones and Juan Pablo Montoya disagree about Oscar Piastri’s McLaren future

Juan Pablo Montoya says Piastri will leave McLaren next year if he loses out on this year’s championship. Only a dominant package under the new regulations would convince him to stay.

Perhaps McLaren’s biggest motivation in trying to keep the title fight fair is that they’re determined to keep both of their drivers. They’re on course for their best season of the 21st century, but there may be a cost.

However, Alan Jones doubts Piastri will leave McLaren because he doesn’t see a better alternative. The team will continue to race with the highly-rated Mercedes engines next year, so they should in theory be able to keep winning.

But ending the season as number two once again, having led the championship for much of the year this time, is the kind of thing that could change Piastri’s outlook.