Source: Official Team Post via X
Jolyon Palmer Weighs In on Lando Norris' Potential Reprimand After Singapore Clash
Jolyon Palmer has suggested McLaren might consider disciplining Lando Norris following his collision with teammate Oscar Piastri during the Singapore Sprint race. The incident, which cost McLaren valuable points, has sparked debate over internal team measures.
Lando Norris' late-race collision with Oscar Piastri in the Singapore Sprint has left McLaren with more than just a dent in their championship hopes. On the final lap, Norris attempted an audacious move on his teammate, resulting in contact that left only one McLaren in the points. With this mishap, the team potentially lost £7.5 million by conceding P3 in the constructors' standings to Red Bull, according to Gary Anderson.
While Norris has since apologized for the incident, Jolyon Palmer speculated on Channel 4 that McLaren might still impose some internal consequences. Last year, Norris had to perform a 'penance' after a less significant incident with Piastri, which was later attributed to Piastri's fault in Austin. Palmer mused whether similar measures might be in store for Norris this time.
The crash has reignited discussions about team orders and priorities within McLaren. Some suggest that Norris' eagerness to play the team game might be curbed by emphasizing the importance of both cars finishing the race. Martin Brundle noted that Norris might have faced a stern talking-to for the incident, which could see McLaren finish fourth in the championship—quite the fall from their double world champion status just a year ago.
The internal dynamics at McLaren will be under scrutiny as the team prepares for the next race at Circuit of the Americas. With the constructors' standings so tight, how McLaren handles this internal conflict could be crucial to their season's outcome.