F1 pundit Jolyon Palmer asserts that Oscar Piastri has been the superior driver over Lando Norris this season, citing "all stats and viewing" despite their current nine-point difference. Palmer believes Piastri's lead could, and should, have been as significant as 61 points if not for a series of unfortunate incidents.
Why it matters:
This claim directly challenges the perceived closeness of the McLaren intra-team battle, suggesting a more dominant performance from Piastri that has been masked by bad luck. If Palmer's assessment is accurate, it reshapes the narrative of the season for both drivers.
The big picture:
While Norris entered 2024 having comfortably beaten his teammate, Piastri, in his third F1 season, rapidly found his stride after a slower start. A hat-trick of wins propelled him into contention as a title favorite. However, his strong form has been consistently undermined by circumstances outside his control.
Key incidents of misfortune for Piastri:
- Melbourne: Piastri lost 16 points when both McLarens went off, with his incident being slightly more impactful than Norris's.
- Silverstone: A contentious penalty, which Palmer noted hasn't been seen since or before, ultimately cost Piastri the race win.
- Imola: The timing of a safety car intervention proved particularly unfortunate for Piastri, resulting in a six-point swing.
- Budapest: Norris secured a victory, partly due to a bad start placing him on a more favorable strategy that Piastri was not given.
- Miami Sprint: A safety car timing error meant Piastri lost the win, which was then awarded to Norris, a two-point swing.
What's next:
Palmer highlights that Piastri has marginally out-qualified and out-raced Norris overall. Despite the significant points lost through bad luck, the current nine-point gap keeps the intra-team championship battle intensely alive for the remainder of the season.