Jolyon Palmer has predicted Max Verstappen will be \u201clooking at a way to get into that Mercedes\u201d after Red Bull slipped down the pecking order.<\/p>\n
The Dutchman has long been linked with a move to Brackley and while rumours have died down of late, the difference in performance between the two teams has one pundit predicting a swap could be back on the cards.<\/p>\n
Max Verstappen tipped for renewed Mercedes push<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has made his adulation of Verstappen well known, having turned him down before he joined Toro Rosso, and in recent years has been trying to persuade the now 28-year-old to join.<\/p>\n That seemed unlikely whilst Red Bull was winning with Verstappen putting together a run of four consecutive titles but the failure to win last year, followed by the Milton Keynes outfit being well down the 2026 pecking order has again raised speculation that a swap could happen.<\/p>\n Former driver turned pundit Jolyon Palmer went as far as to suggest Verstappen would \u201cbe looking at a way to get into that Mercedes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe conversation is going to happen,\u201d he said on the F1 Nation podcast. \u201cMax is not here to finish eighth in qualifying. He\u2019s not here to not even fight for a podium. He\u2019s going to be looking at a way to get into that Mercedes, because they have the best car.<\/p>\n \u201cThey will, at the very least be in the mix for being champions for the next couple of years as well.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if you\u2019re Toto, you\u2019ve got a chance to sign Max, you\u2019ve got the threat of other teams closing in so your built-in advantage at the start of this year is only going to get smaller, you can\u2019t ignore the fact that you have Max Verstappen calling.\u201d<\/p>\n More on Verstappen from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n * Kimi Antonelli eyes Max Verstappen endurance link-up after Nurburgring praise<\/a> If Verstappen were to agree to join, it raises the question of who would he replace as both current Mercedes drivers have their merits. For George Russell, he is clearly the stronger driver but there is the belief that Kimi Antonelli could be a Verstappen-level driver in the future.<\/p>\n That decision was already hinted at last year and Palmer said that could be something that is floating in the background as this season goes on.<\/p>\n \u201cWe saw already those conversations happened last year, and there was a bit of tension,\u201d Palmer said. \u201cI think, Austria, where in the press conference, George was like \u2018well, hang on, why are we talking that he\u2019d replaced me? I\u2019m beating Kimi all the time.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cSo he should be worried. So imagine there\u2019s the title looming and that in the background. I think that is a very good point.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n
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