Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer has disputed Andrea Stella’s declare that McLaren’s newest sluggish pit cease didn’t have an effect on Lando Norris’ finish lead to Azerbaijan.
Norris endured a lacklustre weekend in Baku, ending seventh.
Whereas he lowered Oscar Piastri’s lead by six factors within the race for the world championship, it was seen as a missed alternative for Norris.
Norris may have had a late cost for the rostrum.
He ran lengthy on the laborious tyres in a bid to leap Liam Lawson and Charles Leclerc.
Nevertheless, one other sluggish pit cease meant he dropped behind the pair.
Norris dispatched Leclerc with ease however was unable to get forward of Yuki Tsunoda, who stopped one lap later than the McLaren driver.
Talking to Sky Sports activities after the race, crew boss Stella steered Norris didn’t lose out due to the sluggish cease.
“The pit cease itself didn’t make any distinction as a result of we might have ended up just about within the space of Leclerc. For me, an important takeaway was that the automobile wasn’t quick sufficient.
“With a quick sufficient automobile, I feel we might have been capable of overtake after which have some free air, after which in free air truly use the total potential.”
Why Norris misplaced fifth
Palmer disagreed with Stella’s declare Norris didn’t lose out.
Throughout an evaluation phase for F1 TV, Palmer defined that if Norris had rejoined forward of Leclerc – with out that sluggish cease – then it was possible he’d have undercut Tsunoda.
This is able to have given him a transparent run at Lawson, with out Tsunoda in the way in which.
Palmer stated: “He was going lengthy within the race with Yuki Tsunoda, attempting to sort of overcut Charles Leclerc and Liam Lawson. All of them would have come out very shut collectively.
“He would have come out forward of Leclerc, which might have allowed him to additionally leap Tsunoda, [if he had a faster pit stop] and be the primary automobile behind Liam Lawson. This is able to have made a giant distinction to Norris on the day as nicely, as a result of the McLaren had the tempo and not using a DRS practice forward to clear Lawson on a lot brisker tyres.
“Tsunoda tried and couldn’t make it. However with Norris’ tempo, it appears to be like set that he in all probability would have been capable of move Lawson as nicely after which catch up in the direction of Antonelli.
“In all probability it might have been a fifth-place end, probably even higher on a miraculous day, however no less than fifth place for Lando. That’s 4 factors down the pan, for a pit cease loss once more. Actually powerful stuff for Lando Norris.”
