Palmer questions Mercedes’ 2027 title prospects as rivals close in
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After 17 rounds, Mercedes had 11 victories and a 134-point constructors' lead over Ferrari. But Jolyon Palmer questions whether the team can fight for the 2027 title, and says it should use the remaining races to understand the W17 and assess whether development parts make it faster.
Jolyon Palmer has questioned whether Mercedes can fight for the 2027 Formula 1 title as Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull challenge—and beat—the W17.
Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast ahead of the United States Grand Prix, Palmer described Mercedes’ progress since the start of the season as “a big concern”. The team’s recent upgrade has yet to deliver the expected performance gains.
The warning comes against a formidable results record. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli won Mercedes’ first six rounds between them. After 17 rounds, the team had 11 victories, compared with two each for Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull, and led Ferrari by 134 points in the constructors’ standings.
Palmer sees the United States Grand Prix’s return to a traditional three-practice weekend, following Singapore’s final sprint event of the year, as a chance to understand the car. He argued that Mercedes should use the rest of 2026 to check whether parts developed at Brackley make the W17 faster once fitted—even if the team does not win again this season.
Sources 01
- SOURCEMercedes 'big concern' triggers troubling F1 championship questionRacingNews365 English
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