Jolyon Palmer noticed a ‘horrible’ Lando Norris moment during the Azerbaijan GP, ‘what’s he thinking?’

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McLaren driver Lando Norris has moved within a race win of teammate Oscar Piastri in the drivers’ championship after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

It would be fascinating to know what Lando Norris was thinking when he drove past his McLaren teammate’s car lodged in the barriers at turn five after the opening lap in Baku.

An opportunity that many people wouldn’t have expected Oscar Piastri to present to Norris suddenly arose after a messy Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend.

Norris had made mistakes himself, only managing to start seventh, but with the grid mixed up following six red flags in qualifying, a big points haul was potentially on the cards.

What unfolded was a disappointing outing for the 25-year-old, who took the chequered flag in the same position he started in.

Norris was let down by another slow pit stop, but this time, Piastri wasn’t in front of him to let him by like in Monza.

Max Verstappen put in a stellar pole position lap and recorded the sixth Grand Slam of his career, suddenly putting himself back in the frame to win the drivers’ championship.

Jolyon Palmer spotted one moment during the race from Norris that left him stunned, and played a big part in his disappointing afternoon.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

Lando Norris safety car restart at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix called ‘horrible’ by Jolyon Palmer

Palmer was watching the safety car restart after Piastri’s crash while on commentary for Channel 4 and explained: “Leclerc and Norris are side-by-side as well, Leclerc on the outside here, that’s a tricky move!

“And Charles Leclerc has finally made that spot, so Norris hasn’t gone forward; in fact, he’s gone backwards, and now Hamilton is right behind him!”

He then watched a replay of Norris’ poor getaway when Verstappen decided to go and couldn’t believe what he was watching.

Palmer continued: “Oh, wakey wakey Lando! Wakey wakey, look at that gap!

“That’s a horrible restart from Norris, where’s he looking, what’s he thinking? Through goes Charles Leclerc.”

Reflecting on the race for Sky Sports F1, Anthony Davidson shed more light on Norris’ restart issues.

He explained: “From junior categories, in restart scenarios, you never want the group of cars ahead to be pulling away from you.

“You know it’s going to happen soon, you’re on and off the throttle, it’s a cat and mouse situation, and you don’t want to let them go.

“He was too late on the throttle, and Leclerc’s done exactly what you should do. He gets on the racing line and has a bit more grip, and it was job done.

“That was a really disappointing position for Lando to lose against the Ferrari driver.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine

Why the F1 paddock believes McLaren are now ‘favouring’ Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri

Formula 1 hasn’t seen two teammates battle for the world championship since 2016, when Nico Rosberg pipped Lewis Hamilton to the title and then immediately retired.

However, Norris and Piastri have been taking part in a very cordial fight up to this point, with the Australian even moving aside for his teammate after a slow pit stop at Monza.

People in the paddock believe McLaren are favouring Norris, and while this will be fervently denied by the team, the decision at the Italian Grand Prix was controversial to say the least.

Ultimately, if Verstappen wins the next race in Singapore, McLaren will know they’re going to have to take the threat of the Dutchman winning a fifth straight title seriously.

Norris can’t afford any more mistakes; otherwise, McLaren might be forced to back Piastri, given his superior points total to stave off the threat of Verstappen.