RALF SCHUMACHER HANDS MAX VERSTAPPEN LAS VEGAS WARNING
Ralf Schumacher warns Max Verstappen's Red Bull could jump like a "donkey or a goat" on the bumpy Las Vegas street circuit. The car's low ride height and stiff suspension may struggle with the track's uneven surface.
Schumacher Warns Verstappen Of Car Instability
Max Verstappen and Red Bull have been cautioned by Ralf Schumacher that their vehicle may jump like a "donkey or a goat" at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
"I want to see which side can come up with the best compromise."
Ralf Schumacher
With three weekends left, the Dutchman's chances of winning a fifth straight World Championship are fading as he travels to the Sin City 49 points behind championship leader Lando Norris.
Teams and drivers always have a tough time travelling through the streets of Vegas, and the RB21 has struggled a lot this year with that kind of track feature.
According to Schumacher, Verstappen will have lots of work ahead of him on the rough Las Vegas Street Circuit because the Austrian team likes to use a low-floor and strong suspension configuration.
At the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Max Verstappen won his fourth World Championship in a row. Image courtesy of RacePictures
"Red Bull still has that small problem that they create most of the downforce with the floor of the car," the 50-year-old said on Backstage Boxengasse, an F1 podcast on Sky Sport Germany.
"The car must be extremely stiffly sprung, and the ride height must remain extremely low for that to operate. Then, one can only hope that there are not too many bumps and uneven areas in Las Vegas.
Max Verstappen has stated on multiple occasions that his vehicle leaps like a goat or a donkey. As a driver, you encounter certain tuning constraints.
The German also explained how, when he was competing at the highest level of motorsport, he would adjust his vehicle for colder weather.
The former Jordan, Williams, and Toyota driver clarified, "We often set up the car so that it would ordinarily eat tyres, only to have the tyres in the optimum operating window in terms of temperature."
"You deliberately destroyed the tyres. Naturally, you can only do it to a certain degree since you eventually overshoot. I am interested to see which team comes up with the greatest solution.
OSCAR PIASTRI EXPLAINS 'STRANGE' EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH MARK WEBBER
Oscar Piastri, managed by F1 legend Mark Webber, is in a tight title fight with teammate Lando Norris. The Australian aims to end his country's 45-year championship drought in the final triple-header of the season.
iastri Reveals 'Strange' Fact About Manager Mark Webber
Australia has not had a Formula 1 world champion for forty-five years, but McLaren driver Oscar Piastri and his manager Mark Webber are working hard to change that.
With only the last triple header of races left, Oscar Piastri is still very much in the running, but Alan Jones was the previous Australian to accomplish that feat in 1980 with Williams.
With Max Verstappen still looming in the background, McLaren will be hoping that either Piastri or Lando Norris win their first driver's title.
At the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Norris leads Piastri by 24 points, and the 24-year-old could potentially regain the lead in the title at the following race.
Between now and Abu Dhabi, Piastri's manager and coach, Mark Webber, will be assessing how his protégé can best apply pressure to Norris.
The Australian has now revealed why he finds it so "weird" that he is working with one of the drivers he looked up to as a child, after Webber revealed his ambitions to assist Piastri.
Oscar Piastri calls Mark Webber's inclusion on his management team "odd."
When asked about Webber becoming his manager on Off The Grid, Piastri responded, "Obviously, I grew up watching Mark race on TV."
Therefore, it is a little odd to have him now working for me! Now it feels so natural. It seemed a bit weird when we initially started exploring that way.
"It was like, I am seeing this guy who I have watched Formula One for almost my entire childhood, and he is managing my career and basically giving me instructions!
"So, it took some time for that to really sink in."
Oscar Piastri's first Formula One season was described by Mark Webber as "phenomenal." "I believe it is still so easy to forget that Oscar did not race last year," Webber said.
He has had an absolutely amazing debut in his first year. He will, however, keep working on his areas of improvement since he is Oscar.
With nine Formula One victories between them, Webber and Piastri are tied for second place on the all-time list of Australian drivers with the most triumphs.
Three-time Formula One champion Jack Brabham won 14 races in his 15-year career, while Jones won 12 in 116 starts.
To support his title claim, McLaren should provide Oscar Piastri with more precise instructions.
Norris and Verstappen have outscored Piastri since he won the Dutch Grand Prix, and he has not been on the podium since Monza.
After deciding to install an upgraded suspension setup, Norris appears to be much content with his vehicle, whereas Piastri has been having trouble with his setup.
FERRARI TURMOIL: HAMILTON IN; WILL CHARLES LECLERC LEAVE THE SCUDERIA
As Lewis Hamilton pushes his Ferrari blueprint for a title revival, Ralf Schumacher warns Charles Leclerc to have a Plan B. With three races left, can Hamilton's cultural reset mirror the Schumacher era and lead Ferrari back to the top?
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc - Photo Credit: Getty Images
Hamilton's plan for Ferrari and a throwback to the Schumacher era
The purpose of Lewis Hamilton's visit to Maranello was not to play tourist. To pull Ferrari out of its title famine and chase number eight, he crossed the aisle. A growing chorus within the squad is demanding that Ferrari allow him to take the lead.
Former Ferrari mainstay Francesco Cigarini, who was part of the team during the Schumacher era, believes Hamilton can initiate a similar cultural revolution, but only if the Scuderia fully supports his path. To put it another way, pay attention, adjust, and design the vehicle and the crew to meet his needs. The extra kicker? If the team's vision is combined rather than divided between two driving philosophies, Charles Leclerc might also gain from that strategy. Because everyone in the organisation was singing from the same sheet, the Schumacher playbook was successful. A new one is what Hamilton is attempting to write.
Leclerc advised having a trapdoor on standby.
Ralf Schumacher has also thrown a grenade from the sidelines, saying that Leclerc needs to come up with a backup plan. This follows John Elkann, the chairman of Ferrari, publicly advising his drivers to "speak less." Schumacher believes Leclerc needs leverage, or at the very least, an escape hatch, if the competitive arc does not bend quickly enough. It is the kind of message that lands differently when results are not flowing.
At Maranello, Leclerc is ensnared, committed, and loved. Contracts, however, do not alter physics. The rumours about other options will not cease if Ferrari fails to perfect the latter stages of development. That is the situation close to the 2025 sharp edge of Formula One.
Zak Brown prods the bear once again.
Zak Brown has never shied away from a headline at McLaren. His most recent? Hamilton had previously been the target of Max Verstappen's "too aggressive" behaviour in Brazil. Where to draw the line between reckless risk-taking and elbow-out genius is a well-known argument. Reputations are not the only factor; stewards, optics, and how drivers adjust when tripleheaders and title pressure intersect are also important considerations.
For Vegas, Williams goes noir.
Williams is turning black under the neon, which is on the lighter side (or darker, literally). The Grove team is obviously embracing the showmanship of the U.S. swing, as seen by the fact that this is their third special livery in four races and their second one-off in a row. A mostly black automobile should appear mean under the lights of Las Vegas. Another question is if it is quick down the Strip.
Sauber's "last lap" acknowledgement before the Audi era
In addition, Sauber is getting ready for Vegas by revealing a "last lap" livery with chequered flag motifs as the team approaches its 2026 conversion to the Audi works project. It is a prelude to the rebranding and a clever, nostalgic touch. Do not expect the farewell race just yet; call it a farewell tour.
With just three races left, where does that leave us? Ferrari must decide whether to fully implement Hamilton's template, which includes the driver-first setup philosophy, data-led development, and precise demands, or to keep balancing two ideas and hope that skill will make the difference. It is about picking a clear path and taking both drivers along with it, not about picking Hamilton over Leclerc. Dynasties are established in this manner.
The math is easier for Leclerc. If the package shows up, he is faithful and quick enough to win large in red. Just because he has a backup plan does not ensure he will employ it. It indicates that he is listening.
Additionally, the stakes for Vegas, the penultimate stop, and the finale are rising as McLaren and Red Bull continue to circle each other with chilly compliments and warmer insults. The margin is one overtake, one penalty, and one safety car.
Three races. Old grudges, new liveries, and a championship photo that yet defies neatness. This run-in has teeth, so buckle up.