Jolyon Palmer tells Lando Norris to perfect an ‘important’ issue to ease title nerves in Abu Dhabi

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Lando Norris goes to the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a hand on the F1 drivers’ title, with the Briton leading Max Verstappen by 12 points and Oscar Piastri by 16.

The 26-year-old has already seen his first chance to win the F1 drivers’ championship for the first time go to waste in Lusail last weekend. Norris only salvaged P4 in the Qatar Grand Prix, as he paid the price for McLaren bungling their strategy by not pitting behind the safety car.

Red Bull star Verstappen also stole glory from Piastri owing to McLaren’s botched strategy in the Qatar GP, as the Australian looked set to do the double from pole after his F1 Sprint win. McLaren’s costly error also followed Norris and Piastri’s double disqualification in Las Vegas.

Still, despite Norris’ misfortune over the past two rounds, he only has to finish inside the top three during this Sunday’s Abu Dhabi GP to secure the 2025 F1 drivers’ title. Verstappen and Piastri will have no chance to deny the Bristol native the crown if he finishes on the podium.

Jolyon Palmer urges Lando Norris to deliver on his first Q3 lap during qualifying in Abu Dhabi

Mario Andretti claims Norris is “definitely” the 2025 F1 title favourite heading to Abu Dhabi, given his points lead over Verstappen and Piastri with one round remaining. Norris may also stand to benefit if he is fourth or lower, given McLaren could impose team orders on Piastri.

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

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Jolyon Palmer thinks Norris can also alleviate some of the nerves he will face, knowing that he could become an F1 champion this Sunday, by delivering straight away during Q3 at the Abu Dhabi GP. Norris has not always been able to ace his provisional Q3 lap so far this year.

Palmer told the F1 website: “One final race for the drivers’ title will be a pressure he’s not yet had to deal with, and qualifying will be critical for him this weekend.

“If Lando can qualify at the front, then that will go a huge way to steadying the nerves for the race start, where the pressure will be at its highest. If anything goes awry on Saturday, then things get more complicated for him.

“I think qualifying is also in many ways the best time to alleviate some of the pressure. He should get two shots with new tyres in Q3, and hitting that first effort without mistakes will be important to give himself a banker lap, something he’s not always managed this year.”

Lando Norris has made costly mistakes during qualifying throughout the 2025 F1 season

Norris admitted his mistake after qualifying in Qatar last Saturday, having cost himself a shot at pole by blowing his final Q3 effort. The Briton had set provisional pole with a 1:19.495 lap to lead Piastri, yet he drifted wide at Turn 2 and could not react to the Australian’s response.

READ MORE: Every error that cost Lando Norris points in his failed 2024 F1 title challenge

His first flying lap during Q3 has often been the bigger issue during the 2025 F1 season. The 16-time polesitter was only P5 after the provisional Q3 laps in Las Vegas, yet he benefited as the track continued to dry to get pole. But even then, Norris made a mistake exiting Turn 16.

If Verstappen or Piastri wins the title on Sunday, Norris can look back at mistakes he made in Q3 sessions all year for potential reasons for his failure. Norris called himself “clueless” after qualifying P6 in Bahrain and an “idiot” after crashing on his first Q3 run in Saudi Arabia, too.

Norris tried to match the speed that Piastri had carried through Turn 4 during Q1 and Q2 in Saudi Arabia, yet he ran slightly deep and lost control on the exit kerb. Norris only qualified P7 for the Azerbaijan GP, as well, after brushing the wall at Turn 15 on his only flying effort.