Ralf Schumacher cautions against Max Verstappen 'problem' if McLaren fear is realised

Ralf Schumacher is wary of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri falling victim to a "final collision" as their intra-McLaren battle for the F1 drivers' championship grows ever more intense.

Tension between the pair has reached new heights following the Singapore Grand Prix, where a first-lap clash left the Australian fuming at his team-mate, who barged his way past into third position.

Norris ultimately held on to the final podium place at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, with Piastri left to come home in fourth under the lights of the Southeast Asian city-state.

McLaren's decision not to interfere with the running order of the two MCL39s after their contract at Turn 3 has led to accusations of favouritism at the Woking-based squad.

Schumacher, however, was quick to dismiss such suggestions when speaking on Sky Sport Germany's F1 podcast, Backstage Boxengasse.

The sixth-time grand prix winner rejected the idea that McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown would rather Norris take the title, saying: "Yes, well... I think Zak doesn't want to favour anyone; he doesn't have that kind of character."

However, as the fight swells to a crescendo, Red Bull's Max Verstappen has been able to drag himself back into contention for a fifth-consecutive crown.

Whilst it remains a long shot for the Dutchman, Red Bull's recent resurgence could be cause for pause at constructors' champions, with team orders seldom used and Brown and team principal Andrea Stella maintaining the papaya outfit's driver neutrality.

"But I put it this way: if Max [Verstappen] is really getting very close again, you would have to intervene," Schumacher added. "Otherwise, I think you should just let them do their thing now."

With six rounds remaining, Piastri is 22 points clear of Norris and 63 points ahead of Verstappen.

Just three rounds ago, following the Dutch Grand Prix, the Australian's advantage to the 67-time grand prix winner was 104 points, underscoring how quickly his lead over the 28-year-old is being eroded.

The German is concerned that the two McLaren drivers will make further contact, as they did in Singapore. However, next time they might not successfully navigate it, warned Schumacher.

"I just hope it doesn't come to a final collision," he said. "Somehow, I have a feeling that it will soon come to the point where the two don't come out of the first corner together.

 "And then of course it becomes a problem if Max Verstappen also wins at that time."

Looking ahead to the United States Grand Prix, in Austin, the 50-year-old believes the medium-speed Circuit of the Americas could suit the RB21.

"I think the next race in Texas is again very good for Red Bull, and then it could be difficult again for McLaren, who in general seem to be getting slowly edgy," the former Jordan, Williams and Toyota driver stated.

"Andrea Stella knows that, because the dominance seems to have suddenly disappeared. And that, of course, is also something they don't understand at all at the moment, and can't use at the end of the season."