Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer has stated Lando Norris' aggression against team-mate Oscar Piastri in Canada was a “signal of intent” over the risks he is willing to take.
Norris and Piastri have emerged as the two leading contenders in the drivers' title fight this year with the MCL39 winning seven out of the opening 10 races.
Five of the wins have come through Piastri, aiding his run to the top of the standings.
The duo clashed for the first time in Canada last weekend in a misjudgment from Norris, resulting in terminal damage for the Briton while Piastri finished in fourth, extending his lead to 22 points.
Palmer has suggested the incident showcases the lengths Norris will go through to beat Piastri.
“It’s a real signal of intent as to the risks Norris will take in racing his team mate now,” Palmer wrote in his column for F1.com.
“It shows that the time for any pretence of teamwork is over and it is most definitely gloves off for the rest of the season.
“Piastri takes his biggest points advantage yet to the next race and Norris has another week of regret to think about what he might have done differently.”
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Jolyon Palmer identifies 'silver lining' for Lando Norris
Piastri's current lead at the head of the standings is the largest he has enjoyed during the campaign.
Despite the setback, Palmer has asserted that all is not lost for Norris as he highlighted the strong pace he had on the build-up to the clash.
“The silver lining for him is that the pace was there,” Palmer added.
“This looked like Norris’ best race drive of 2025 until the contact and he’ll take confidence from that.
“It’s just in the pressure moments that we are seeing too many errors.
“His Abu Dhabi win last year was under constructors’ championship pressure, though and you don’t get a more intense qualifying than Monaco, where he took pole, so we know he can do it, he just needs to find some momentum.
“This was another blot, but the championship is most certainly not over yet.”
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