© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer says after the Turkish Grand Prix he believes Lewis Hamilton is now the favourite to win the 2021 championship.
In a talk with radio station talkSPORT, Jolyon Palmer said that Mercedes’ performance at the Turkish Grand Prix makes him believe Lewis Hamilton is the favourite to win the 2021 title.
“You know what, for the first time this season I’m starting to think maybe Lewis is the favourite overall,” Palmer said.
“I actually think 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.
“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.”
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Palmers goes on to say that he believes the next three races will be better suited for Red Bull, but the final three are Mercedes tracks.
“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.
“This one 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 Bottas was completely unchallenged by Verstappen, they were one and two the whole race, but Bottas never had to check his mirrors, [and] ended up winning by 15 seconds.
“That’s a statement by Mercedes, and even though 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, [so] Verstappen has to really fly in the next couple,” Palmer concluded.
