Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes that Max Verstappen will not be able to repeat this season the great comeback he made last year, when he once again threatened the title fight against McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
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In an interview with the F1 Nation podcast, the Briton said he considers the chances of the Red Bull four-time world champion in the championship fight to be over: “There is no chance Max is in the championship fight this year. His chance was gone. I’m ruling that out. I’ll probably look like an idiot in Abu Dhabi when he does it again, and we’ll all say: ‘Ah, he showed that last year.’ Then it’s just about him believing in the future of the team.”
Last season, Verstappen was as much as 104 points behind Oscar Piastri after the Dutch GP, making the possibility of a fifth consecutive title practically unlikely. However, Red Bull reacted under the leadership of Laurent Mekies and delivered to the driver a car once again capable of fighting for wins, in addition to benefiting from McLaren’s mistakes.
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The comeback led Verstappen to arrive at the decision in Abu Dhabi with title chances, but the Dutchman finished the season just two points behind Norris, who won the first world championship of his career.
Currently Verstappen is sixth in the drivers’ championship with 109 points. He is 110 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli, of Mercedes.
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