Should Max Verstappen decide that this is it for him in Formula 1, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes the perfect replacement is already on the grid.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s not Isack Hadjar or Arvid Lindblad, it\u2019s Ferrari\u2019s Charles Leclerc.<\/p>\n
Max Verstappen exit talk as Jolyon Palmer backs Charles Leclerc<\/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 Verstappen has made it known since pre-season testing that he is not a fan of Formula 1\u2019s new \u201canti-racing\u201d regulations.<\/p>\n Battery harvesting and super clipping have become the buzzwords of the sport\u2019s new power unit era, with the drivers having to lean on battery power.<\/p>\n The drivers can currently harvest energy up to 250kW under super clipping \u2013 siphoning off energy from the internal combustion engine for battery power \u2013 which is 100kW short of the battery\u2019s maximum output.<\/p>\n It means they cannot go flat-out for a full lap, not even in qualifying.<\/p>\n Verstappen has called it everything from \u201cFormula E on steroids\u201d to \u201cMario Kart\u201d. More to the point, he\u2019s just not having fun racing the new cars.<\/p>\n Go deeper: Max Verstappen\u2019s frustration with the F1 2026 rules<\/p>\n \u2018Every day I convince myself\u2019 \u2013 Verstappen makes alarming F1 2026 confession<\/a><\/p>\n Max Verstappen exit talk grows as Eddie Irvine insists F1 \u2018doesn\u2019t need\u2019 him<\/a><\/p>\n This has led the four-time world champion to suggest that his F1 days may soon be over.<\/p>\n Speaking at Suzuka, he said: \u201cI don\u2019t get upset about it. I don\u2019t get disappointed or frustrated by it anymore with what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know how I think about stuff, I don\u2019t need to mention it again. So yeah, a lot of stuff obviously for me, personally, to figure out.\u201d<\/p>\n Pressed on what he needs to think about, Verstappen simply replied: \u201cLife here.\u201d<\/p>\n He doubled down on that 24 hours later, saying: \u201cI\u2019m thinking about everything inside this paddock\u2026 You just think about, is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family, seeing my friends more when you\u2019re not enjoying your sport?\u201d<\/p>\n It begs the question, who would Red Bull sign to replace him?<\/p>\n Although the team has the up-and-coming Isack Hadjar in the second RB22 this season, the 21-year-old has yet to demonstrate that he could be the next Verstappen.<\/p>\n Red Bull also has Arvid Lindblad at Racing Bulls, but he also still needs a few years before he could arguably stake his claim as the next Verstappen.<\/p>\n Palmer reckons Red Bull would have to look outside its own stable for a driver to lead the team.<\/p>\n And there, he believes Ferrari\u2019s eight-time grand prix winner Leclerc would be the best bet.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, for me if money no object, probably Charles Leclerc,\u201d he told the F1 Nation podcast.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been at Ferrari a long time. I think he\u2019s supremely talented. I think he\u2019s shown that.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Ferrari can\u2019t show this year that they can be capable of winning the title, which they might do yet, I think he\u2019s someone that could be tempted away.<\/p>\n \u201cWould he be tempted enough to go to Red Bull? We\u2019re talking real hypotheticals here, but I still think there\u2019s a title in him and I think he might be tempted.\u201d<\/p>\n But whether Leclerc would leave Ferrari is a different story.<\/p>\n The Monegasque driver is in his eighth season with the team and has repeatedly denied rumours that he could be looking elsewhere after just eight wins in eight years.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I can say is what I\u2019ve always said, and that\u2019s very clear,\u201d Leclerc said at last year\u2019s United States GP. \u201cI\u2019ve always loved Ferrari so much and my only obsession at the moment is to win in red, whether it\u2019s now or in the future. And I want to bring back Ferrari to the top.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are lots of speculations around me, but just in general around the team for whatever reason. I feel like there are too many people speaking things not coming from actual facts, and it\u2019s just a little bit annoying.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always been like that. And I think as a driver, but also as a team, we\u2019ve just got to focus on our things, which is what we are doing. It\u2019s not super nice to see all these things around the team all the time.\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