Ralf Schumacher lashes out at 'total nonsense' McLaren theory

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has dismissed the suggestion that McLaren is favouring Lando Norris in the title fight.

The battle for the drivers' championship this year has largely been between Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri, however a strong surge in form from Max Verstappen has seen the Red Bull driver become a late contender.

Norris has held the upper hand over Piastri over the last five rounds, outscoring the Australian at every grand prix since the Netherlands.

Piastri has been mystified as to the cause of his slump in form - but Schumacher has asserted it has nothing to do with influence from McLaren.

“That whole story that McLaren CEO Zak Brown is favouring Lando Norris is total nonsense,” Schumacher told the Backstage Boxengasse podcast.

“I can tell you one thing, and I know this from a reliable source: Zak doesn't pull ahead of anyone, just whoever is the fastest at the time. 

“He doesn't care who wins the championship, as long as the title ends up with the McLaren team.

“He just wants to have the world champion on his team, he doesn't care about his name. Zak is a good guy, but also a hard businessman.”

Having been off the pace compared to Norris in Mexico, Piastri voiced his confusion over where the drop-off has stemmed from.

Schumacher has warned Piastri he must not be drawn into believing he is being treated unfairly.

"You get the idea that he feels he is not being treated fairly, that things have changed around him,” Schumacher said.

“That is dangerous, I know from my own experience.

"If you start looking for reasons why things are suddenly not going so well - suggesting, for example, that the car suddenly feels different - then the outside world gets the idea that you are no longer content."