Ralf Schumacher believes McLaren have now ‘internally’ made one brutal Lando Norris decision

When Andrea Stella took over as team principal of McLaren in December 2022, he would have dreamt of his team being in the position they are today.

McLaren lead the constructors’ championship after 10 races by 175 points, and their two drivers are sitting at the top of the driver standings.

Oscar Piastri has developed into one of the most ferocious drivers on the grid and fully justified McLaren’s decision to poach him from Alpine.

On the other side of the garage, Lando Norris is proof that McLaren’s own junior program works, with the latest graduate also succeeding elsewhere on the grid with Sauber in the form of Gabriel Bortoleto.

McLaren having two successful drivers is both a blessing and a curse for Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown.

The Canadian Grand Prix saw the long-awaited first clash between Norris and Piastri, with the British driver coming out worse off after crashing into the back of his teammate.

Fans enjoyed Norris immediately apologising for the collision, but Ralf Schumacher believes it’s led to an internal decision with the Woking-based team that he won’t be a fan of.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

Ralf Schumacher thinks McLaren have ‘internally’ backed Oscar Piastri for the F1 championship

Schumacher was asked on the Backstage Boxengasse Podcast if Canadian Grand Prix winner George Russell has a chance of winning the championship after his victory in Canada, and he replied: “It depends on what the two of them [at McLaren] do now, right?

“But I think it’s pretty much decided internally now that Piastri is the man that the team will focus on.

“I have to be honest and say that Lando showed too many weaknesses and made too many mistakes in qualifying, including now in Canada.

“Then this senseless driving into the back of Piastri. He did apologise, which shows what a great person he is, but it’s no use.

“Great people rarely win titles. Unfortunately, that is the case. I would have been happy for him, but I think McLaren has almost made a decision internally.

‘From that point of view, I would say it is difficult [for Russell].”

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

Lando Norris ‘under more pressure’ at McLaren after error-strewn Canadian Grand Prix

Norris is only 22 points behind Piastri at this stage of the season, but the Canadian Grand Prix highlighted the difficult position he’s in.

He left the opening race of the season with a 23-point lead, showing the superior pace Piastri has had since that day.

Norris is said to be ‘under more pressure’ at McLaren as a result of his performance in Montreal.

Although he had better race pace than Piastri, the mistakes he made in qualifying that forced him onto the alternative strategy always made securing a podium finish unlikely.

Driving into the back of his teammate was the most upsetting moment of the weekend, although Ralf Schumacher thinks McLaren need to take some of the blame for the difficulties he faced.

Norris will be determined to prove to McLaren that they shouldn’t back Piastri yet in the championship fight.

Even though Verstappen and Russell are in close enough proximity to put both drivers under pressure, Norris will feel he’s fast enough to win his first drivers’ championship this year.