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Jolyon Palmer believes Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull would put them in a very difficult position when it comes to finding a replacement.
The Red Bull departure of Gianpiero Lambiase is the latest in a series of exits that have begun to chip away at Red Bull’s dominance in the first half of this decade.
Red Bull’s empire is in decline, as several prominent names instrumental in their success this decade have moved on from the team.
Are Red Bull’s days as a top F1 team coming to an end?
Max Verstappen once vowed to follow Lambiase to the exit if that day ever came. Now that the day has come and gone, the speculation around Verstappen’s future with Red Bull.
However, Max Verstappen leaving would be just the start of the problems for Red Bull, as their succession plan for him will need significant tweaking.
READ MORE: Max Verstappen has already explained why losing Gianpiero Lambiase would hurt him so much
Jolyon Palmer says Red Bull will be ‘too inexperienced’ if they replace Max Verstappen with Racing Bulls drivers
Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Jolyon Palmer was asked about Red Bull possibly replacing Max Verstappen with either Liam Lawson or Arvid Lindblad.
He noted that pairing Isack Hadjar, who is already a young driver in his own right, with another young driver, will leave the team too inexperienced without a veteran presence.
“I think, to partner Hadjar with Lawson or Lindblad leaves them too inexperienced. I think they have to import some experience to help bolster Hadjar, if nothing else.”
While there is concern that Red Bull shareholder pressure could make way for Lawson to replace Verstappen, it’s far from an ideal scenario for the team.
However, there is going to be a concerning lack of veteran drivers available in the driver market for Red Bull to try and replace Verstappen with.
READ MORE: Gianpiero Lambiase is ‘putting in a good word’ for Max Verstappen at McLaren ahead of Red Bull exit
Can Red Bull attract great drivers to their team if Max Verstappen leaves?
Red Bull must ensure 2026 season does not plunge team into chaos
While Verstappen’s camp was aware Lambiase would be leaving for greener pastures, it’s hard to imagine the four-time world champion would have been thrilled with the prospect.
At this point, Verstappen retiring in 2026 wouldn’t be surprising. But it would significantly hurt Red Bull’s prospects in the present and the future.
Red Bull’s fundamental issues with the RB22 have become very clear, but they cannot rest on their laurels. At this point, improving the car should be the topmost priority for Laurent Mekies, Pierre Wache, and the rest of the leadership team.
An improvement in the car could convince Verstappen to reconsider his stance on retirement, thus buying them more time to address their issues, recruit new talent, and turn things around.
Failing to do so could plunge Red Bull into an uncomfortable era of mediocrity, one that they will struggle to break out of in the future.
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