Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes that Mercedes should not bet on a duo formed by Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli. For the Brit, even if George Russell leaves the team, the Dutchman would not be the ideal replacement. During a participation in the F1 Nation podcast, Palmer commented on the driver market rumors and explained his point of view:
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“Only if Max goes to McLaren or Mercedes would a big vacancy arise at Red Bull, and then that would become an option. The only thing I see at Mercedes is this: if George leaves and decides he wants to start over somewhere else, which is a big ‘if’, would Toto Wolff want to put his great talent, Kimi Antonelli, to partner with Max Verstappen?”
“That sounds like a recipe for disaster right now. Kimi, I think, has already proven he is a number one driver. He is not about to come in and accept being the second driver. So I think Kimi has raised his level to such an extent that, if George leaves, Max is no longer the ideal replacement.”
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Verstappen’s future at Red Bull remains undefined, as the Dutchman has not yet confirmed staying with the Milton Keynes team for 2027. Rumors grew after the Silverstone round, where a second failure in the rear wing took from the four-time world champion a probable podium.
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