Jolyon Palmer has pointed to a 'steely' side of George Russell, which he argued could come out in an intra-team battle with his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.
Both Russell and Antonelli are level with grand prix wins following the Japanese Grand Prix, where the young Italian became the youngest championship leader in the history of the sport. With their success so far and the potency of the Mercedes machinery they're piloting, it's no secret that they are pegged as favourites for the 2026 championship.
"I do think George still has the upper hand," Palmer said during the F1 Nation podcast when discussing with James Hinchcliffe and Tom Clarkson if 2026 could see a Nico Rosberg vs Lewis Hamilton-type rivalry.
"I disagree with George not having that level of Rosberg Hamilton in him. I've seen George race from the junior formula, and I know that that guy has got steeliness that if he's under pressure and there's a title at play, I think he definitely has it in him to give it everything and come out on top.
"I don't think he'll necessarily play nicey-nice with Kimi the whole way. So then it depends on what Kimi's like and we haven't seen enough of that yet, have we?"
Hinchcliffe responded: "So I agree with you on George. But it takes two to tango, and I don't think that Kimi, I don't think at 19, still in his second year, still very much under the microscope, I'd be shocked if he believes that he can jump up there.
"I don't even know if he has it in him as a human. He seems like the nicest kid. I haven't seen some of those things that you saw out of George in the junior formula, but even if it's there, in the situation that he's in, trying to attack George Russell within the team, it seems a bit risky. I just don't think he's got it in him. I think those two are different personalities."
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