The team’s decision not to intervene after the Turn 3 incident sparked controversy and suspicions of favoritism toward the British driver. However, on the Sky Sport Germany podcast Backstage Boxengasse, Schumacher firmly rejected such claims: “I think Zak doesn’t want to favour anyone; he’s not that kind of person.”
As the title battle heats up, Max Verstappen has returned in contention for a fifth consecutive championship. Although the path remains long for the Dutchman, Red Bull’s recent resurgence represents a serious warning for rivals. Meanwhile, McLaren continues to maintain team orders as an exception, with Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella keeping a neutral stance between the papaya team’s drivers.
Schumacher added: “This is how I see it: if Max Verstappen really starts to close in again, intervention might be necessary. Otherwise, it’s simply better to let the two drivers race freely.” Six races from the season’s end, Oscar Piastri holds a 22-point lead over Norris and 63 points over Verstappen. Just three races ago, at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, the Australian’s advantage over the Dutchman was 104 points, highlighting how quickly his lead over the 28-year-old is shrinking.
The German fears that the two McLaren drivers could come into contact again, as happened in Singapore. However, next time, they might not handle it successfully, Schumacher warned: “I just hope it doesn’t come to a final collision. Somehow, I have the feeling we will soon reach the point where the two won’t come out of the first corner together. And then, of course, if Max Verstappen were to win, it would become a problem.”
Looking ahead to the United States Grand Prix in Austin, the 50-year-old believes the Circuit of the Americas, a medium-speed track, could suit the RB21: “I think the next race in Texas will be very positive for Red Bull again, while it could be challenging for McLaren, which in general seems to be slowly getting nervous.”
Schumacher concluded his comments by saying: “Andrea Stella knows this well, because dominance seems to have suddenly disappeared. And this, of course, is something they currently cannot fully understand or exploit, even by the end of the season.”
Leave a Reply