Williams team principal James Vowles has advised his former team, Mercedes, against recruiting four-time world champion Max Verstappen. Despite acknowledging Verstappen`s status as “absolutely extraordinary,” Vowles believes there would be “a lot of downsides” to such a move and that trying to sign him “still may not be the right decision” for Mercedes.
Verstappen`s future is currently a subject of speculation, partly due to Red Bull`s inconsistent performance at the start of the season and the potential existence of an early exit clause in his contract, which is set to run until 2028. This clause could potentially be activated later this year under certain conditions.
Should Verstappen consider leaving Red Bull, Mercedes has often been mentioned as a primary alternative destination. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has openly expressed interest in the Dutch driver previously, particularly during periods of uncertainty about Verstappen`s future at Red Bull in 2024.
Mercedes has yet to finalize its driver lineup for 2026, with George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli currently confirmed only for the ongoing season. Any possibility of Verstappen becoming available in the near future would significantly impact the entire Formula 1 driver market. However, Vowles, who previously served as Mercedes` head of strategy before taking over as Williams team principal in 2023, expressed doubt whether disrupting the developing partnership between Russell and Antonelli to accommodate Verstappen would be the optimal choice for Wolff`s team.
Speaking at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Vowles was quoted as saying that while he wasn`t speaking for Toto Wolff, he believed Mercedes already possessed a “really good driver line-up for the future.” He described Verstappen`s performance, such as his pole lap in Japan, as “jaw-dropping” and praised his speed, stating there was “no doubting up and down the pit lane how quick he is.”
Nonetheless, Vowles reiterated his view that Verstappen “comes with a lot of downsides as well that you have to acknowledge.” He contrasted this with what he sees at Mercedes: “a great culture with two drivers that are delivering near to the peak of the car and with one that`s on the way up.” Concluding his initial remarks, Vowles stated, “So I personally don`t think there`s a place for [Verstappen].”
Clarifying his comments later in Jeddah, Vowles told Sky Sports F1 that his point was less about questioning Verstappen`s talent and more about Mercedes` advantageous situation. He framed it as Mercedes having “a really good problem” with their current setup.
Vowles noted that Mercedes has “two excellent drivers” and that the decision of whether to make a change in that regard is “for them to really comment on.” He emphasized the value of the “stable environment, a culture that works, two drivers that are working together, one that`s on the way up” currently present at Mercedes. In his view, changing this for a driver as quick as Max “still may not be the right decision,” stressing that this was solely his personal “commentary.”
Regarding Mercedes` position, team boss Toto Wolff told Sky Sports F1 during the Saudi Arabian GP weekend that the team had not engaged in discussions with Max Verstappen. Wolff stated he was “super happy with the line-up we have, I couldn`t wish for anything better.” He affirmed, “Max is at Red Bull, we haven`t had a conversation, we are continuing our trajectory,” indicating that their focus remains on their current path rather than pursuing Verstappen.
