'There's no chance Verstappen is going to be in a championship fight this year'

Last year, the Dutchman found himself as many as 104 points behind then championship leader Oscar Piastri after Zandvoort, and even thinking about a fifth consecutive title seemed like pure fantasy. That was until Red Bull, under Laurent Mekies' new leadership, stepped up and gave Verstappen a car capable of fighting for wins again, while also capitalising on a few McLaren mistakes.

The comeback ultimately fell just two points short in Abu Dhabi, with Lando Norris celebrating the first world championship of his career and leaving the four-time world champion with a bitter ending to the season.

Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Palmer said he does not believe Verstappen will be part of this year's title fight, insisting the Dutchman's championship challenge is effectively over despite last season's remarkable comeback.

Speaking on the Up to Speed podcast, two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen explained why he believes McLaren should resist the temptation to pursue Max Verstappen if it meant replacing Piastri.

The Finn pointed to the way McLaren has consistently operated over the years, arguing that the team has always placed greater importance on the strength of the overall package than on individual drivers, with a strong emphasis on building team spirit, stability and harmony within the garage.

In Hakkinen's view, changing a line-up that already consists of two top drivers and includes a reigning world champion would introduce an unnecessary risk, as it could upset the balance the team has worked hard to create. He also pointed to his own long partnership with a world champion at McLaren as an example of how maintaining harmony between teammates can be a key ingredient for sustained success.