Jolyon Palmer proposes that Oscar Piastri requires a reset in Formula 1, making a direct comparison to Lando Norris.

Ex-Formula 1 competitor Jolyon Palmer has indicated that McLaren's Oscar Piastri might benefit from a winter reset following a challenging 2026 season.
Piastri approaches this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix after finishing eighth at the Spanish Grand Prix, while his teammate Lando Norris secured pole position and established a solid lead before an ill-timed virtual safety car disrupted his race.
After contending for the championship in 2025, Piastri has encountered difficulties throughout 2026. He currently ranks seventh in the drivers' standings with 120 points, while Norris occupies the fourth spot with 186 points.
During an appearance on the F1 Nation podcast, Palmer evaluated the current performance of the Australian driver.
"Firstly, Oscar might be thankful that McLaren isn't in the championship race because otherwise, we'd be scrutinizing him just as we are with George. He’s faltering this season," the former Renault driver remarked.
"Oscar had a remarkable half-season last year where he exhibited champion-like qualities and delivered an outstanding performance. Considering that he is an F3 and F2 champion, it seemed like last year heralded the emergence of a new great Australian champion. Could he accomplish what Mark Webber couldn't? It felt like it was on the right track.
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
"However, when you take a closer look at Oscar's journey in Formula 1, he's been in the sport for three and a half years now. One of those years was outstanding. For the other three years, he has largely played second fiddle to Lando. He possesses the ability to deliver exceptional performances, but his consistency, especially in comparison to Lando, has been lacking, aside from that impressive half-year last season, which was perfectly timed for a title challenge."
He continued: "Is this the current state for Oscar? He doesn't seem as adept at maneuvering the car as Lando does. Last year's cars were a better fit for him until we reached the lower-grip circuits, as Andrea Stella mentioned, which revealed his limitations a bit more in Austin and Mexico, among others.
"He's simply a driver who will be looking for a streak of good form, but also perhaps for the upcoming winter to serve as a reset because every weekend appears to be quite a challenge for him."





