Max Verstappen was heavily linked with a Mercedes F1 seat for the 2026 season but chose to stay at Red Bull.
Former F1 driver-turned-pundit Jolyon Palmer suggests that Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli may be taking pleasure in Max Verstappen’s struggles in Formula 1. Verstappen was rumored to move to Mercedes in 2026, but he decided to stay at Red Bull after not activating a contract clause. Verstappen has expressed frustration with the new regulations and has even considered quitting, denying claims that his discontent stems solely from Red Bull’s performance. Meanwhile, Mercedes has dominated the season so far, with Antonelli leading Russell by nine points in the standings. Palmer believes that the Mercedes duo could find satisfaction in seeing Verstappen’s challenges. He speculates that if Russell and Antonelli continue performing well, Mercedes might not be eager to replace them with Verstappen, despite his undeniable talent.
