Jolyon Palmer amazed by Oscar Piastri moment at Monza that he once thought was ‘impossible’

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Oscar Piastri didn’t let his 34-point championship lead get in the way of putting his Italian Grand Prix at risk in one on-track battle that amazed Jolyon Palmer.

The lead was cut down to 31 points at the chequered flag, with teammate Lando Norris securing second place after another McLaren team orders debacle decided the order of cars.

Max Verstappen went on to dominate the Italian GP, stretching out a lead of nearly 20 seconds to Norris by the time the chequered flag fell.

The Dutchman broke numerous F1 records during the weekend, including a new Monza lap record as well as the fastest F1 race in the sport’s history.

However, there was one moment at the start of the race which caught the attention of many, and that was Piastri’s overtake on Charles Leclerc in the opening laps of the race.

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Jolyon Palmer has never seen anyone pull off an overtake like Oscar Piastri’s on Charles Leclerc at Monza

Starting from third on the grid, Piastri was immediately put under pressure by Leclerc heading into turn one. The Ferrari driver managed to get the better of the McLaren at the first chicane, but was hampered by a slow exit from Norris at the second chicane.

Piastri took advantage of the loss of momentum from the Monegasque, pulling alongside his SF-25 and sending it around the outside of the first Lesmo corner to reclaim the position he started in.

The move was hair-raising, due to the fact that a slight miscalculation from either driver in the scenario would have seen both of their races ending early.

Speaking on his analysis show for F1TV, Jolyon Palmer broke down the opening lap move from Piastri, stating, “I don’t think I ever remember someone going around the outside of someone at Lesmo one. It’s a pretty impossible move to try and pull off.”

In the midst of a title fight with his McLaren teammate, Palmer identified the risks that Piastri took in order to dispatch of Leclerc and set his sights on Norris ahead, saying, “Now if they have contact, Piastri is out of the race. He’s going to be pitched off to the left onto the grass into the barriers.

“This is a massive risk to go for this move.”

Palmer ended his analysis by exclaiming, “Another first lap wonder move from Piastri.”

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McLaren cost Oscar Piastri second place with team orders demand

Piastri ended up squabbling with Leclerc over the next few laps, eventually getting past the Ferrari on lap six. The 24-year-old stayed within half a dozen seconds of his McLaren teammate for the majority of the race, before a pitstop error undid the hard work of both drivers.

The battle with Leclerc had already cost Piastri time in his race against championship rival Norris, and the Australian driver was forced to concede second place to the British driver after a slow stop from the McLaren pit crew caused him to fall behind.

Piastri’s choice to let Norris take P2 back has been criticised by many in the F1 world, with Jacques Villeneuve claiming that he isn’t a ‘pure racer’ for not going against team orders and taking the position for himself.

It has become commonplace on the McLaren pit-wall to interfere with the intensity at which their drivers race, with McLaren’s orders to Piastri at Melbourne also coming under the spotlight after the race.