{"id":622221,"date":"2026-04-21T21:56:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T21:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/622221\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T21:56:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T21:56:10","slug":"f1-pundit-backs-controversial-choice-for-max-verstappen-replacement-at-red-bull","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/622221\/","title":{"rendered":"F1 pundit backs controversial choice for Max Verstappen replacement at Red Bull"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Formula 1<\/a> driver Jolyon Palmer believes Max Verstappen\u2019s replacement is on the current grid, just not in the places many would expect. <\/p>\n

Since Bahrain\u2019<\/a>s pre-season tests, Verstappen has made his distaste for the F1 regulation changes well-documented. From labelling the regulations \u2018anti-racing\u2019 and \u2018Formula E on steroids\u2019 amongst other creative insults, it\u2019s safe to say the Dutchman has not been enjoying racing this season. <\/p>\n

After three rounds, Red Bull currently sits sixth in the Standings, with Verstappen down in ninth for the Drivers\u2019 Championship. This poor start to the season, combined with the \u2018disappointing\u2019 regulation changes, left Verstappen hinting at an early retirement. Following the Japanese GP, the Dutchman stated he was \u201cnot enjoying the sport.\u201d Prompting him to toss up what means more to him, racing in F1, or spending time with his friends and family away from the sport. <\/p>\n

Alongside this, it was confirmed that Verstappen\u2019s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, would leave Red Bull in 2027 for a new role at McLaren. This move and the pair\u2019s close relationship has left many wondering if this could be an early sign of retirement for the four-time World Champion.<\/p>\n

Despite this, neither Red Bull nor Verstappen have yet to confirm their plans as a pair. <\/p>\n

Palmer\u2019s pick for Max Verstappen replacement<\/p>\n

Hypothetically speaking, if Verstappen were to retire, Palmer believes his replacement wouldn\u2019t be a Red Bull Junior. Whilst Hadjar and Lindblad have proved their skills, Palmer believes Red Bull needs an established driver at the helm. <\/p>\n

Enter Ferrari\u2019s golden boy, eight-time Grand Prix winner, Charles Leclerc.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, for me if money no object, probably Charles Leclerc,\u201d Palmer told the F1 Nation podcast.<\/p>\n

\"PalmerLeclerc\u2019s abilities and experience could be crucial for Red Bull<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been at Ferrari a long time. I think he\u2019s supremely talented.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite being at Ferrari for eight seasons, the Monegasque has only eight victories to show for it. The Scuderia are one of F1\u2019s most prestigious teams. However, if Red Bull can prove to be a championship-fighting team, Palmer believes Leclerc could be tempted. <\/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

Would 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

Charles Leclerc remains loyal to Ferrari<\/p>\n

Despite Palmer\u2019s claims, Leclerc has repeatedly denied rumours that he will leave Ferrari. Last year at the United States GP, the Monegasque highlighted his love for his team, emphasising he does not want to leave Ferrari. Rather, Leclerc hopes to remain in red until he inevitably retires. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I can say is what I\u2019ve always said, and that\u2019s very clear,\u201d Leclerc mentioned last year.<\/p>\n

\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 Ferrari back 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

Ferrari has been the only team this year able to withstand a challenge against the Mercedes duo. Whilst not claiming a race victory, the second-place Constructors\u2019 team could change that when F1 heads to Miami. <\/p>\n

READ MORE \u2013 Fernando Alonso defends Honda\u2019s nightmare start to 2026<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes Max Verstappen\u2019s replacement is on the current grid, just not in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":622222,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[572],"tags":[64,63,13275,817,826,825,806,805,803,804,15196,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-622221","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-motosport","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-charles-leclerc","11":"tag-f1","12":"tag-ferrari","13":"tag-max-verstappen","14":"tag-motor","15":"tag-motor-sports","16":"tag-motosport","17":"tag-motosports","18":"tag-redbull","19":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/622221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=622221"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/622221\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/622222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=622221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=622221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=622221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}