Jolyon Palmer, former Formula 1 driver and now a respected pundit, believes that George Russell and Kimi Antonelli may be quietly “enjoying” the ongoing controversies linked to Max Verstappen. Over the past year, the Red Bull driver has frequently been at the center of speculation, particularly rumors suggesting a potential move to a Mercedes seat in Brackley for the 2026 Formula 1 season. These reports inevitably raised concerns within the Mercedes camp, as one of their current drivers would have been forced to make way for the Dutchman.
At the height of the speculation, several reports suggested that George Russell could be the one to leave the Silver Arrows, especially as he had yet to secure a contract extension at that time. However, as things stand today, the situation has remained unchanged: Russell and Antonelli continue as Mercedes teammates, while Verstappen remains firmly with Red Bull.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen’s dissatisfaction with the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 regulations has been widely discussed. The Dutch driver has even hinted on multiple occasions that he could consider retirement, firmly rejecting claims that his frustration stems from a lack of competitiveness at Red Bull. On the contrary, Mercedes has enjoyed a dominant start to the current campaign, winning all three Grands Prix held so far, including the Sprint race in China. At present, it is Kimi Antonelli who leads the Drivers’ Championship standings, holding a nine-point advantage over his British teammate.
Palmer: “Max will get closer, but it’s not like last year”
Given the intensity of the contacts between Mercedes and Max Verstappen last season, Jolyon Palmer believes that the current Mercedes driver pairing could derive a certain level of satisfaction from the Dutchman’s complicated situation. Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Palmer explained: “If both George and Kimi keep driving well, then you start to wonder whether it’s still worth putting Max in the car.”
He continued: “If the partnership is working effectively and the results are positive, then I’m not sure what else needs to be said.”
Palmer was also keen to underline Verstappen’s undeniable ability, while suggesting that the current context is different from previous seasons: “Obviously, Max has extraordinary talent. As the competitive order tightens, the cars will continue to evolve further. They will get closer and closer to what Max wants to drive.”
He then added: “But I don’t get the same feeling as last year, when we saw him at the absolute peak of his form, with that same hunger for success.”
Palmer concluded with a candid observation: “So I think if you were George or Kimi, you would enjoy the fact that Max isn’t in the happiest place right now. In fact, I’m sure he’s still looking for a team capable of winning races.”
“But there is a much bigger picture to consider for Max.”
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