Jolyon Palmer believes one F1 driver has now overtaken Max Verstappen as the ‘best racer’ on the grid

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Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen is feeling the pressure of defending his Formula 1 title this season.

Max Verstappen has four drivers’ championships to his name and is looking to match Michael Schumacher’s record of winning five in a row this season.

However, McLaren have developed a car this year that even Verstappen is struggling to keep up with.

Oscar Piastri leads the championship from Lando Norris by 22 points, with Verstappen a further 21 points behind.

With 14 race weekends remaining, there’s still plenty of time for things to change, with Ferrari rushing through updates for the Austrian Grand Prix to try and make themselves more competitive as well.

Red Bull are bringing updates to Austria too, but the question remains over whether Verstappen is still the best racer on the grid.

Jolyon Palmer is unsure whether that remains the case, and thinks a new driver has stolen that crown.

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Oscar Piastri named the ‘best racer’ in Formula 1 by Jolyon Palmer

Palmer was asked about Piastri and Norris’ battle on the F1 Nation Podcast during the Canadian Grand Prix that ultimately led to the pair colliding.

He explained: “I think Oscar, to be fair, is about the best racer in the field as well.

“So, I think that matchup is tough, and I would agree with that sentiment.

“We’ve seen it many times now, Oscar be brilliant in wheel-to-wheel [battles], and we’ve seen Lando a few times, not quite get it completely right.

“I still think with that move, though, at the hairpin, he’s given himself a chance by going for it, and getting there.

“He’s given himself a really great chance of trying to pass at the chicane or turn one.

“And if he doesn’t go for the hairpin move, Lando, he’s just not going to come past. The DRS train is going to mean that it was all negated.

“So, the first part is great, but then it’s just the indecision in the end.

“I mean, obviously, he’ll be kicking himself, thinking he should have gone to the right-hand side and given himself another shot at turn one.

“And these are all just the really tough moments when you have split seconds to try and choose which way to go, and he’s got it wrong.”

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Jolyon Palmer predicts one driver to beat Oscar Piastri at the Austrian Grand Prix

Piastri has already won five Grand Prix this season, which is an exceptional step up considering he only had two victories to his name before the start of 2025.

He got the better of Verstappen going into the first corner in Saudi Arabia, and has had far less trouble overtaking the Dutchman than his teammate whenever they’ve met on track.

Piastri was clever to allow Norris to undercut him at the hairpin in Canada to give himself the best run going down to the chicane before the Brit’s costly error.

However, Palmer has predicted Verstappen to beat Piastri in Austria this weekend.

The 27-year-old is a master of the Red Bull Ring, having won at the track on five occasions.

Verstappen needs to avoid picking up any penalty points at the Austrian Grand Prix, otherwise he’ll be banned from the next race at Silverstone.

The incidents that have led to him being on the precipice of sitting out a race are why Palmer has now opted for Piastri as the ‘best racer’ in the sport.