Jolyon Palmer can see Max Verstappen replacing Charles Leclerc at Ferrari if he leaves Red Bull

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Jolyon Palmer has suggested that Ferrari should go all in for Max Verstappen if he decides to leave Red Bull at the end of the 2026 season.

The four-time champion’s future in Formula 1 has been thrown into uncertainty as he expresses dissatisfaction with the 2026 regulation changes. He has openly criticised the new rules, sparking rumours that he could walk away from the sport.

Verstappen is tabling options to the FIA to improve the regulations, showing that he is passionate about F1. If he is to stay in the sport, many are wondering if he will remain with Red Bull, as he can leave the team through an exit clause in his contract.

With his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, joining McLaren in 2028, many have started to speculate that the Dutchman could follow him to Woking. In fact, reports are suggesting that Lambiase is ‘putting in a good word’ for Verstappen at McLaren.

However, Palmer does not see the four-time champion joining McLaren, but rather, he can see him heading to Ferrari and replacing Charles Leclerc.

Jolyon Palmer thinks Max Verstappen is more likely to join Ferrari than McLaren

Leclerc can break his Ferrari contract in 2026 if he so wishes. He has a deal until 2029, but after years of underperformance and a lack of a title-winning package, rumours have suggested that he may consider his future.

Lewis Hamilton is reinvigorated at Ferrari in 2026 and may decide to continue into 2027, but if Leclerc leaves the team, Palmer thinks they have to go in for Verstappen.

Asked where he thinks the Dutchman could end up if he leaves, he said via F1 Nation: “So the only other one I’m thinking is, you’re going to be surprised by this, but Ferrari.

“On the one hand, you’ve got Lewis, and as I said, I think Ollie Bearman is obviously part of their setup and would go there.

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“On the other hand, you’ve got Charles, and to me, he’s a driver that’s got all the talent to be a world champion and is waiting at Ferrari for them to have the car to do it.

“And if they can’t progress this year, at the start of a new set of regulations… I don’t know the details of his contract, but I imagine he’d be someone that would just be touting around elsewhere to just see if this is his moment now.

“New regs, it’s still not happening, if it’s still not happening, and there could be an option to look elsewhere. And I think he would be an attractive signing for any of the other top teams.

“So then if you’re Ferrari, with a vacancy like Leclerc, then I think you’ve got to go hard for Max. I don’t see Max at McLaren. I think it would only work if one of the McLaren drivers wanted out.”

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Max Verstappen has been sceptical about joining Ferrari

Piero Ferrari has been ‘following’ Verstappen for 10 years, keeping tabs on him since his maiden win in F1 in Barcelona in 2016. The Maranello outfit have long been admirers of the Dutchman.

If the door opens for Verstappen at Ferrari, it will be one to consider, especially with how the team have taken a step forward in 2026. They have finished P3 at every race thus far, but do not currently have the package to win.

Indeed, Martin Brundle thinks Verstappen will be keeping an eye on Ferrari as he weighs up his options for his future.

However, Verstappen has been sceptical about joining Ferrari, as he fears that the team will not guarantee him success. They have not won drivers’ title since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007.