Ralf Schumacher does not believe Lando Norris is currently capable of competing with Oscar Piastri – the championship leader is “fast” but not mentally strong enough
Lando Norris still leads the Formula 1 drivers’ championship. However, his teammate Oscar Piastri has won the most races so far in the 2025 season. While Norris “only” triumphed at the season opener in Australia, Piastri went on to win in China and Bahrain.
After his victory on Sunday, the Australian is now just three points behind Norris, who made several mistakes at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Expert Ralf Schumacher believes that this mixed weekend was no coincidence.
“He’s totally unsettled,“ Schumacher said, describing his observations on Sky’s Backstage Boxengasse podcast, pointing to the start, where Norris incurred a penalty for standing too far forward in his starting box.
”That kind of thing shouldn’t happen,” the six-time Grand Prix winner said, reminding listeners that Norris is a driver ‘who is competing for the world championship’ this year. But while teammate Piastri has received a lot of praise recently, criticism of Norris is growing.
“And of course Norris sees all these comments,” explains Schumacher, “and he’s getting a bit desperate about it. This psychological warfare is in full swing. And that doesn’t help him, of course,” believes the expert.
Character doesn’t matter on the track “not a damn bit”
Schumacher says of Norris: “He’s just a bit softer in character. I think that’s what makes him who he is and makes him likeable. But of course, no one cares about that on the race track; that’s where he has to perform.”
And that’s exactly where Norris failed in Bahrain, because the start wasn’t the only mistake Schumacher observed. In his opinion, Norris should have at least overtaken George Russell in the Mercedes at the end of the race and finished second.
He explains: “In my opinion, he blew it when Russell pulled inwards in turn 1 shortly before the end. He should have braked earlier on the outside, then dived in and taken the momentum with him onto the second straight after turn 3.”
He could then have ‘easily overtaken’ Russell, according to Schumacher, who explains in this context: ‘Max Verstappen would definitely have passed George Russell. There’s no doubt about that.’ But an unsettled Norris just couldn’t manage it.
Does Piastri have the “necessary toughness” that Norris lacks?
Schumacher therefore advises Norris to take a complete break from Formula 1 at the next opportunity outside of race weekends in order to clear his head. “Because he is fast,” Schumacher reminds us.
In his opinion, Norris’ problems are purely mental. “He shouldn’t be hearing these conversations we’re having right now,” Schumacher emphasizes, adding with a smile: “The best thing would be for Zak Brown to take him on vacation for a few days and reset him.”
Especially since, at some point during the season, there could be a direct duel on the track between the two McLaren drivers, according to Schumacher, who doesn’t think Norris stands a chance against his teammate in his current form.
“Oscar Piastri has the necessary toughness to pull it off. In my opinion, Lando would always brake again,” believes Schumacher. Not exactly ideal conditions for an internal world championship battle, should it really come to that.
