Max Verstappen backed for fresh Mercedes F1 talks

Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer is confident Max Verstappen and Mercedes will re-engage in conversations over a future partnership.

The two parties were in talks last year amid a slump in form for Red Bull, and speculation was heavy that Verstappen would opt to jump ship.

However, the Dutchman stayed put for the 2026 campaign, which has seen Mercedes spring out of the gates in hot form with two wins in the opening two rounds.

Red Bull, meanwhile, has suffered a slip down the pecking order and has been unable to pose a threat anywhere near the front of the field so far this year.

The performance advantage for Mercedes will have Verstappen knocking at the door, Palmer believes.

"The conversation is going to happen because Red Bull, we said this last year, but they will not win the title this year,” the former Renault driver told the F1 Nation podcast.

"I was right in the end last year - by two points! They look like they've got way too much work to do.

“Max is not here to finish eighth in qualifying. He's not here to not even fight for a podium.

"He's going to be looking at a way to get into that Mercedes because they have the best car. 

“They will, at the very least, be in the mix for being champions for the next couple of years as well.”

Wolff has already responded to the rumours, insisting he is happy with the current line-up of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

But Palmer added that Mercedes would be silly to ignore interest from Verstappen.

"If you're Toto, you've got a chance to sign Max, you've got the threat of other teams closing in, your built-in advantage at the start of this year is only going to get smaller,” he said.

"You can't ignore the fact that you've got Max Verstappen calling, and we saw already those conversations happen last year, and there was a bit of tension. 

“Was it Austria where, in the press conference, George was like, 'Well, hang on, why are we all talking that he'd replace me? I'm beating Kimi all the time. So, he should be worried'.

"So, imagine there's the title looming and that in the background.”