Former F1 driver-turned-pundit Jolyon Palmer believes that Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are "enjoying" Max Verstappen's ongoing F1 struggles.
The Red Bull driver was heavily linked with a Brackley seat for 2026, with either Russell or Antonelli to make way, but ultimately stayed at the Milton Keynes-based squad after not activating a break clause in his contract.
Such is Verstappen's displeasure with the new regulations that he has threatened to quit and dismissed the idea that he is only voicing his displeasure because Red Bull is not winning and competing at the front of races.
In contrast, Mercedes has won all three grands prix, and the Chinese GP Sprint, with Antonelli leading Russell by nine points with two victories to one.
Given the scale of the Verstappen-to-Mercedes links last season, Palmer believes that the two Mercedes drivers will have some satisfaction from the plight of Verstappen.
"If George and Kimi are both driving well, then you are thinking if you're still desperate to put Max in the car," Palmer explained on the F1 Nation podcast.
"If you've got a happy partnership and they're winning, then I don't know.
"Obviously, Max has all the talent in the world, and surely as the pecking order gets closer, the cars will develop more and get more akin to something Max wants to drive, but I don't quite feel it is the same as last year, when we saw him at the absolute peak of his powers, wanting and having that hunger.
"So I think if you're George and Kimi, you're kind of enjoying the fact that Max isn't loving life right now, and I'm sure he's still looking at a team which can win races, but there is a whole bigger picture with Max."
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