McLaren handed warning over Oscar Piastri-Lando Norris situation

Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer is adamant the harmonious relationship between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris will not continue as the season progresses.

McLaren has enjoyed a strong start to the current season, winning seven of the opening nine grands prix.

Piastri currently leads Norris in the standings by 10 points as the pair both seek to take their first championships this year.

The pair have not yet come to blows on the track, however a minor incident occurred during qualifying in Barcelona when Norris attempted to use his team-mate's slipstream to gain an advantage at the start of Q3.

Piastri labelled it as a “cheeky” move over team radio, marking the first sign of friction between the duo.

“I thought it was the first sign of them playing against each other,” Palmer told the F1 Nation podcast.

“Oscar came on the radio and said ‘cheeky’. He just immediately knew what was going on.

“He went to the inside and hit the brakes hard to give his team-mate absolutely nothing.

“It was the first time that they're actively trying to hinder one another, really. It made sense for Oscar to do that.”

Unlike many championship-contending team-mates in the past, there has been little conflict between Piastri and Norris in the opening phase of the season.

But Palmer has suggested as the duo get closer to the end of the campaign, a rift will form.

“Overall, they've still been quite nice, they're still good team-mates - but it can’t go on when now, in my belief, it's one of them who will be the champion,” Palmer added.

“They have to start with holding a bit of information from the other, making sure that when it all comes down on Saturday, they have the last tenth in the bag and they're not showing all their hand on a Friday.

“They are getting their elbows out more with each other on a Sunday.

“They can't go on being nice. And I think Saturday in Barcelona was the sign of Lando trying to do something a little bit cheeky.”