Ralf Schumacher calls Winward Racing "beginners" after Verstappen’s Nürburgring disqualification

Ralf Schumacher has delivered a scathing verdict on Winward Racing after Max Verstappen’s team was stripped of victory at the Nürburgring, branding the operation’s costly error a "huge beginner's mistake."

However, celebrations proved short-lived. Hours after the chequered flag, it emerged that the team had used seven sets of tyres during the race, despite regulations permitting only six. The breach resulted in an immediate disqualification, wiping out what had appeared to be a hard-fought victory.

Schumacher’s sharp criticism

Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Schumacher did not hold back in his assessment of the mistake.

"It was a huge beginner's mistake, a mistake by the team," he said.

Schumacher pointed to his familiarity with the outfit as context for his reaction.

"I know the team; my son (David) also drove for it. I am also familiar with the team manager."

His criticism went further, suggesting the error was not entirely surprising.

"I was not surprised that this happened. In the past, a lot of things happened there. They don't take it so seriously and seem to have other priorities than focusing on the essentials, so it doesn't surprise me at all."

For Schumacher, the presence of a high-profile figure such as Verstappen should have triggered even greater operational vigilance.

"If Max Verstappen participates, you check everything two or even three times, and then you manage to count a set of tyres incorrectly or make a wrong choice."

He likened the misstep to one of Formula 1’s more infamous pit-lane blunders.

"It's just as bad as that time when Ferrari was ready for a three-tire pit stop. There is little else to say about that. Six sets of tyres, six. That must be clear."

In Schumacher’s view, the error was as fundamental as it was avoidable — a procedural lapse that ultimately cost the team a victory on technical grounds rather than on-track performance.