Palmer puts his money on Hamilton to snatch title

©Mercedes

Max Verstappen reclaimed the lead in the championship in Turkey, but Jolyon Palmer is putting his money on Lewis Hamilton to win an eighth F1 world title.

Verstappen's runner-spot behind Turkish Grand Prix winner Valtteri Bottas allowed the Red Bull driver to overhaul Hamilton in the Drivers' standings, albeit by just six points.

With six rounds remaining, the battle between the Dutchman and his Mercedes rival looks set to go down to the wire. But Palmer feels that Bottas' dominant win at Istanbul Park bodes well for Hamilton.

"You know what, for the first time this season I'm starting to think maybe Lewis is the favourite overall," Palmer told radio station talkSPORT.

"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."

©RedBull

Palmer sees the final six races split up equally between Red Bull and Mercedes, but reckons that Verstappen and Red Bull will need perform absolutely flawlessly in the final stretch of three events to beat Hamilton and Mercedes to the title in Abu Dhabi.

"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," sid the former F1 driver.

"This one was in between, no one really knew where it was going to go, and it was quite categorically Mercedes who were stronger.

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"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."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.