Williams team principal James Vowles does not think Mercedes should make a move for Max Verstappen.
A potential move for Verstappen has become a big talking point in Jeddah after Red Bull team adviser Helmut Marko admitted after a disappointing race in Bahrain that “the concern is great” about Verstappen’s future.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has previously shown an interest in Verstappen, even holding talks with his camp last summer before both parties opted against making a move.
Wolff said in Australia that Verstappen was not currently on his radar for a possible move, and that his focus was on the existing line-up of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
Vowles worked for a long time at Mercedes prior to taking the top job at Williams, effectively serving as Wolff’s right-hand man as the team’s motorsport strategy director.
Talking to reporters today, Vowles said he did not think a possible line up of Russell and Verstappen would work given they were “two very different characters,” and thought Mercedes already had a “really good driver line-up for the future.”
💬 “With Kimi, and yes, I’m biased because I worked with him for a long period of time, but if you just look at the steps he’s making in qualifying, he’s making steps every single week, and he’s only driven effectively four grand prix races.
“He’s on a good pathway to be very, very competitive, so you keep investing in that and George is delivering. I mean, he’s been a bit quiet but you can’t really fault anything he’s done this year.
“So can you add a tiny bit more performance? Yes, through Max. I think there is more performance to be had through Max, and I don’t think anyone in the room would deny he is extraordinary in what he can do. Japan was, for me, jaw-dropping. Well done to him.
“But he comes with a lot of downsides as well that we have to acknowledge. I think what Mercedes does have is a great culture with two drivers that are delivering near to the peak of the car, and with one that is on the way up.
“So I personally don’t think that’s the place for him.”