Ralf Schumacher has sparked debate ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix with his claim that McLaren may have decided to prioritise Oscar Piastri over Lando Norris.
The claim follows the dramatic Canadian Grand Prix, where a late-race battle for fourth place ended in disaster for McLaren.
“I believe that it is now internally decided that Piastri is the man the team will focus on in terms of the world championship,” Schumacher said on Sky Germany.
“Lando shows too many weaknesses and makes too many mistakes, including his senseless driving into the back of Oscar in Canada.”
Lando Norris collided with teammate Piastri, costing himself valuable points in the championship standings. The incident has further widened the gap between the two McLaren drivers, with Piastri now holding a 22-point advantage.
Norris took full responsibility for the collision, issuing an apology to both the team and Piastri. While Schumacher commended Norris’s maturity, he also noted that such accountability, though admirable, is not particularly helpful when fighting for a championship.
Despite the incident, Schumacher acknowledged Norris’s impressive pace in Montreal, where he had looked like a serious contender before the crash.
However, Schumacher believes that McLaren have made a strategic decision behind closed doors, opting to back Piastri for the remainder of the campaign.
Officially, McLaren have not confirmed any shift in team strategy or driver hierarchy. So far, both Piastri and Norris have received equal treatment, and the team has consistently avoided naming a No.1 driver.
