Palmer sees no current weakness in Red Bull as Jacques credits rear update

Jolyon Palmer says the weaknesses once associated with Red Bull's car no longer seem to be there after its upgrades, while Alex Jacques credits a rear-end update with unlocking its overall balance. They made that assessment on F1 Nation's United States Grand Prix preview, after Max Verstappen's wins in Malaysia and Singapore put him in contention for second in the drivers' standings.

Palmer highlighted the car's ability to ride kerbs. He thought Verstappen had mentioned downshift instability once in Singapore, but said Red Bull had been able to dial it out for years. Right now, Palmer said, he saw no weakness.

Jacques offered a technical explanation: in his view, the car had not fully brought out Verstappen's distinctive driving, which he associated with a highly sensitive front end. A change at the rear improved the overall balance, Jacques said, giving Verstappen greater confidence in a car that suited him.

Red Bull had scored just 16 points across the first three rounds. Palmer compared the recovery with McLaren's rise before its title-winning seasons in 2024 and 2025, saying Red Bull's percentage turnaround could be the biggest on paper if it sustains its progress through the final races.

Palmer also praised team principal Laurent Mekies for keeping the team focused and commended the powertrain department's work. He said Red Bull had stability heading into 2027; if Verstappen has a fighting chance, Palmer believes he will start 2027 as a championship favourite.