Schumacher loses confidence: 'Verstappen doesn't stand a chance'

"Mercedes has a more stable package at the moment. Max is giving everything and showing how good he is, but under normal circumstances, he doesn't stand a chance. Maybe he has the luck that he has lacked so far. If he had had a bit more luck at the beginning of the year, he might have been champion by now", Schumacher is quoted on the Dutch branch of Motorsport.com.

The analyst previously revealed that he would like to see Verstappen win the title, but after the last few races, he has lost a little confidence. In Brazil, Hamilton drove an incredibly strong race and also last weekend in Qatar he was too fast for Red Bull.

'Mercedes not cheating on purpose'

"We saw again in Qatar that Mercedes is fast enough. They don't need to cheat. So I don't assume that the team is deliberately flouting the rules", Schumacher says in response to the controversy surrounding Mercedes' rear wing. Red Bull suspects the team of having an illegal wing.

The FIA, at Red Bull's request, is now keeping a close eye on the teams' rear wings. If there really is something wrong with Mercedes' rear wing, Schumacher says it is probably accidental. "When you are operating close to the limit, something can always go wrong after which you can end up in a grey area."