Jolyon Palmer now thinks 22-podium F1 star is ‘better’ than both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

Follow us on Google Discover

Unless Max Verstappen pulls off one of the most incredible comebacks in Formula 1 history, a McLaren driver is going to win the championship this season.

Oscar Piastri leads the drivers’ championship by 25 points ahead of teammate Lando Norris with seven races to go.

Max Verstappen has closed the gap with back-to-back victories going into the Singapore Grand Prix.

It’s unusual if the fastest driver on the grid doesn’t win the championship, but so many factors go into Formula 1 that it’s not always the case that the dominant driver is in the dominant car.

Verstappen is proving that point this season, although Piastri and Norris have had their moments this year where they’ve proven to be championship candidates.

However, Jolyon Palmer has been discussing another driver on the grid who he believes might be at an even higher level than both McLaren stars this year.

Mercedes driver George Russell has four victories and 22 podiums to his name during his F1 career thus far, but Palmer thinks he might already be even quicker than this season’s two most likely championship candidates.

READ MORE: Mercedes driver George Russell’s life outside F1 from net worth to height

Jolyon Palmer suggests George Russell might be ‘better’ than Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

Palmer was asked on the F1 Nation Podcast how he thinks the four Mercedes-powered teams will rank next season and said: “I’m going to be super boring and say the order that we have now.

“I still think it’s McLaren, Mercedes, Williams, Alpine. But it’s tough to know, really, isn’t it?

“There is a whole new reg cycle. How much emphasis are McLaren putting on this year? Have Mercedes canned it early on and are going to produce something more?

“It’s difficult to imagine Williams making the jump to be on a level with the other two, just because they are such powerhouses of Formula 1 teams.

“And then Alpine, I can’t help but think they’re going to be on the back foot. I thought they’d be better. I thought they’d be quite an exciting prospect, but that’s my order.”

The former Renault driver was then asked out of those four teams which has the best driver line-up, and he continued: “I think it’s, again, the same order. Tough with Mercedes.

“I think McLaren have the best line-up of those four. I think Norris and Piastri are both really high-level drivers, and one of them will be a champion.

“I think Russell is at least in that bracket, maybe better than those two, but right in that bracket as well. But Antonelli’s not there yet. We will see with the second year if he can get more consistent.

“I think Sainz and Albon are not at Russell’s level, but both really good, competent drivers for Williams and would be worthy of a top seat.

“And then, Gasly and Colapinto. Gasly’s absolutely solid. Colapinto’s still a bit unproven.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Mercedes F1 Team from team principal to lineage

George Russell’s Mercedes future hangs in the balance as contract announcement wait continues

Russell is by far the most talented driver on the grid who hasn’t signed a new deal for next season.

The desire for Mercedes to sign Verstappen delayed a deal with Russell being agreed, and despite the Dutchman committing his immediate future to Red Bull, nothing has been confirmed for 2026.

Russell is keen for an Antonelli clause to be inserted in his new deal, meaning that he’ll be rewarded with a contract extension if he beats his rookie teammate by a certain margin next year.

He wants assurances that he’ll be able to plan his long-term future around staying at a team which could be the championship favourites next year.

If an agreement can’t be reached, Russell is considering a management change which would put him in a strong position in the F1 driver market beyond 2026.

Considering his constantly growing reputation within Formula 1, Mercedes know they can’t afford to destroy their relationship with the 27-year-old in case Antonelli never fulfils his potential or they can’t eventually get a deal with Verstappen over the line.