Jolyon Palmer believes Oscar Piastri could benefit from a reset after a difficult 2026, as McLaren arrives in Baku with its intra-team balance tilting clearly toward Lando Norris.

Piastri sits seventh on 120 points, while Norris is fourth with 186, underscoring a growing gap. The Australian’s recent form includes an eighth-place finish in Spain, while Norris took pole and led much of the race before a virtual safety car compromised his victory chance.

Speaking on F1 Nation, Palmer said Piastri’s level has fluctuated. He highlighted a standout half-season last year but argued that, across his tenure so far, Piastri has more often played second to Norris, with consistency the key deficit.

Piastri’s pedigree is unquestioned, with Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles raising expectations. He contended strongly in 2025, but the expected step to a sustained 2026 title challenge has not materialised.

Palmer suggested car traits this year have magnified a driving-style mismatch. Norris appears more at ease rotating the rear and managing low-grip phases, whereas Piastri has looked less comfortable on tracks like Austin and Mexico where sliding tolerance is critical.

That contrast feeds into McLaren’s weekend execution. Norris’s broader operating window simplifies set-up direction, while Piastri’s narrower comfort zone increases sensitivity to balance shifts and tyre behaviour.

Baku’s mixed layout and heavy braking zones will test that adaptability. McLaren’s approach to the Azerbaijan weekend, including top-speed efficiency versus downforce trade-offs, could be pivotal for Piastri’s confidence as the team targets gains in Baku.

Palmer concluded that a winter reset could help Piastri consolidate strengths and address weaknesses exposed by the current regulations. He described the Australian’s recent run as “a real struggle,” a view echoed in analysis of his progress and setbacks.

The implications stretch beyond individual form. McLaren’s Constructors’ aspirations depend on converting both cars’ pace into regular points, making Piastri’s rebound vital against rivals tightening the midfield margin.

Norris’s momentum, complemented by a busy schedule that includes a recent hypercar test, underlines his current sharpness. It also reinforces the standard Piastri must reach to re-level their dynamic.

The opportunity is there. If Piastri reconnects with the form that once made him look like a future champion, the gap can close quickly. Baku offers the next data point.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.