Jolyon Palmer warns Max Verstappen’s rivals that he can win in Melbourne with ‘no pace in the car’

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Red Bull aren’t at the top of everyone’s predictions for the upcoming F1 season, but Jolyon Palmer doesn’t think Max Verstappen should be ruled out of contention for race wins that easily.

Max Verstappen has shown time and time again that you simply can’t count him out, even when the tide seems to be going against him.

Last year was a brilliant example of exactly that. Despite being on the back foot to Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris for the majority of the season, the Dutchman almost pulled off one of the most incredible comebacks in F1 history, losing out by just two points.

However, a brand-new set of regulations has threatened Red Bull’s competitiveness, and the overriding sentiment that is currently coming out of the F1 paddock is that Max Verstappen will be racing a little bit slower this season than what we’ve become accustomed to in recent years.

In fact, Sky Sports F1’s David Croft believes that the RB22 wouldn’t be able to win the title even if they had two Verstappens in the line-up.

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

Will Isack Hadjar be psychologically crushed by being Max Verstappen’s teammate this year?

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Jolyon Palmer recalls Max Verstappen’s performance at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix in warning

During a discussion over Verstappen’s competitiveness in the upcoming Australian Grand Prix, Jolyon Palmer sent out a stern warning to any of the Dutchman’s rivals who may be counting him out of contention after pre-season.

The former Renault F1 driver recalled Verstappen’s performance in last year’s edition of the race in Melbourne, saying on F1 Nation, “We should remember that last year, he qualified nearly half a second away from Lando on pole. Oscar was then second on the grid.

“In the race, the McLarens just absolutely disappeared from him. The Red Bull pace just wasn’t there. And then he was nose to tail with Lando at the end for the win.

“It was a complex race. It was a hectic race, chaotic, but he almost won it with no pace in the car at all. And I think that’s what Max can give you on any given day.

“We’ve seen it time and time again in Brazil over the years. At any level of mixed-up race, opportunities will come, or he’ll just make them, and he could be a difference maker.”

Martin Brundle’s verdict on the race was that Verstappen missed out on the victory due to his final pit-stop coming one lap too late.

In the grand scheme of things, if Verstappen did in fact stand on the top step of the podium in Melbourne last year, we would now be calling him a five-time world champion instead.

• READ MORE: Best moments of Max Verstappen’s F1 career including first pole, podium, win, title and more

What’s your podium prediction for the Australian Grand Prix? 🇦🇺

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James Hinchcliffe still thinks Max Verstappen has an ‘advantage’ over the rest of the grid this year

Palmer’s warning came after former IndyCar star James Hinchcliffe issued his verdict on how the four-time world champion will fare this year.

The Canadian believes that Verstappen still has an advantage over the rest of the field, but the Red Bull-Ford power unit will be his only limiting factor.

He said, “The only thing that’s going to maybe hold him back is this question mark over the new power unit. Well, that question’s been sort of answered, partly answered.

“It was, as you guys have said, incredibly impressive of what that group has done. And if they’re even in the ballpark, Max can be the difference maker there.

“So where’s he going to line up on the grid? I’m not sure. It’ll be at the sharp end, but certainly over a Grand Prix distance, if that powertrain is reliable and has the capabilities that it looks like it does so far, I think it is advantage Max.”