The 83-point difference to Kimi Antonelli is Lando Norris’s main obstacle in trying to defend the Formula 1 drivers’ title, according to Jolyon Palmer. For the former driver, the Briton’s good form is not enough to make up the deficit, especially given doubts about McLaren’s performance on the upcoming tracks.
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Norris arrives in Monza this weekend after winning in Hungary and the Netherlands. The two victories reduced a deficit that reached 101 points, but Palmer considers the gap still large: “I still feel it is. Again, looking at the records, the biggest deficit ever overturned in a championship is 46 points, by Max Verstappen in 2022. Of course, last year it was almost 104, so that’s where we all changed our perspective to think anything under 100 is great. But you’re still very far behind, honestly.”
“And Lando, at his worst moment, was 101 points behind this year. Actually, I think he’s driving incredibly well. He’s in the running for driver of the season. He and Kimi, to me, were the two standouts. But he’s still 83 points behind.”
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Palmer also sees the characteristic of the Monza layout, which hosts the Italian GP this weekend, as a possible problem for Norris. “I think when you look at the last races, Budapest, Zandvoort, both are high downforce,” he added. “Both are, if you gave me a list on paper to say which tracks would favor the drivers, I would put Lando’s name next to both.
“He has a great record there. McLaren has a great record at both, and he delivered brilliant wins. But can they do that at Monza? That’s where I’m not sure. We also have more Mercedes updates coming at some point. So my instinct is that he’s too far behind. But hey, if somehow he can put pressure, you never know.”
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