Ralf Schumacher Suggests Piastri Feels Unfairly Treated by McLaren Against Norris

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher speculates that Oscar Piastri may feel he's not being treated fairly by McLaren in his rivalry with teammate Lando Norris, a claim Schumacher himself dismisses but highlights as a potential source of tension. This sentiment stems from a series of on-track incidents and team decisions that have seemingly disadvantaged Piastri.

Why it matters:

This situation raises questions about McLaren's internal team dynamics and whether their long-standing 'papaya rules' for fair competition are being consistently applied. Any perceived favoritism could destabilize team morale and impact driver performance, especially as McLaren aims to solidify its position among F1's top contenders. Maintaining a harmonious environment where both drivers feel equally supported is crucial for maximizing the team's championship aspirations.

The Details:

• Monza Team Order: Tensions first arose at Monza when Piastri was instructed by the pit wall to let Norris pass after a slow pit stop dropped Norris behind him. This decision contradicted McLaren's usual policy of letting on-track incidents or pit stop delays play out naturally.
  • The team order cost Piastri three crucial points, allowing Norris to move ahead in the championship by a single point.
• Singapore Overtake: In Singapore, Norris made light contact with Piastri during an overtake at the start. McLaren's internal guidelines would typically mandate a position swap to neutralize any gained advantage, but this did not occur.
• Performance Disparity: Lando Norris has shown strong recent form, securing three podiums and a win in the last five races, while Piastri has not reached the podium in the same period.
  • Schumacher notes on the Boxxengasse Backstage podcast that McLaren clearly had a strong car, implying Norris's earlier struggles weren't due to car performance but perhaps missed opportunities.
• Piastri's Difficulties: Schumacher highlighted Piastri's generally difficult recent weekends, reinforcing the ex-F1 driver's feeling that Piastri doesn't feel equitably supported.

Between the lines:

Schumacher's comments suggest that if Piastri, or his manager Mark Webber, perceive an imbalance, it could lead to internal friction. He warns that such discontent could become a "disaster" if not addressed by McLaren leadership. He argues there's no logical reason for McLaren to favor one driver, as the ultimate goal is for both cars to perform at their best. This underlying sentiment, even if not explicitly confirmed by Piastri, points to potential cracks in what has otherwise been a strong driver pairing.

What's next:

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has attributed Piastri's recent difficulties to adaptation issues with the MCL39, particularly the lack of grip experienced at tracks like Baku, Circuit of the Americas, and Autodromo Hermanos Rodrigues. The onus is now on McLaren's leadership to ensure both drivers feel equally supported and that team policies are applied consistently to prevent further speculation or internal discord. Resolving any perceived unfairness will be key to maintaining team unity and maximizing their potential for the remainder of the season and beyond.