TURKEY – Although a grid penalty for an engine change had forced Mercedes driver, Lewis Hamilton, to surrender the World Championship lead in Turkey, his recovery to take P5, along with Max Verstappen finishing second behind Valterri Bottas, has convinced former Renault driver, Jolyon Palmer, to lean towards the British champion taking the title in 2021, especially given how Valtteri was able to perform, and the apparent gap in speed between Mercedes and Red Bull in qualifying and the race.
“You know what, for the first time this season, I’m starting to think maybe Lewis is the favourite overall,” Jolyon said after the Turkish Grand Prix, quoted by talkSPORT.
“I actually think (Max) Verstappen can’t be happy with that race. Yes, he’s taken second, he’s got the championship lead, but he was no match for Valtteri Bottas. (Lewis) Hamilton, if he was starting from pole, which is where he qualified, he’s winning this easily, I think.
“Lewis has taken his engine penalty, lost a few points, that was pretty much going to be a given, unless something remarkable happened, which it didn’t.
“But I’m worried for Red Bull because I can’t remember the last time they really showed a lot of pace.”
Due to the closeness of the championship, Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, is insistent that a DNF will prove to be more crucial than the small swings experienced between Lewis and Max, but the differences in the remaining circuits could play into either team’s hands.
Red Bull has traditionally performed better at circuits at high altitude while Lewis has had five previous wins in Austin − Formula One’s next venue.
Despite Red Bull seemingly holding an advantage in a couple of events, Jolyon feels their opponents have the overall edge for the remainder of the year.
“What I’ve thought is that USA, Mexico and Sao Paulo coming up could be better for Red Bull, but quite frankly, I think the last three in the Middle East could be better for Mercedes,” he said.
“[Turkey] was in between, no one really knew where it was going to go, and it was quite categorically, Mercedes, who were stronger.
“The fact that (Valtteri) Bottas was completely unchallenged by (Max) Verstappen − they were one and two the whole race − but (Valtteri) Bottas never had to check his mirrors, ended up winning by 15 seconds.
“That’s a statement by Mercedes, and even though (Lewis) Hamilton’s behind in the championship, he’s the stronger [Mercedes] driver, quite comfortably.
“He’s going to be able to apply the pressure and really turn the screw in the Middle Eastern races, (Max) Verstappen has to really fly in the next couple.” – Agencies, October 17, 2021
