JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — According to Williams team principal James Vowles, current world champion Max Verstappen might not be the ideal driver for Mercedes. Vowles suggests that Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, would be wiser to continue developing the team`s existing driver lineup.
Vowles, who previously spent over two decades at Mercedes as an engineer before moving to Williams in 2023, offers his perspective on the potential driver market moves.
While Toto Wolff previously expressed interest in signing Verstappen, he reportedly ended his pursuit last summer. Mercedes is now set to proceed with George Russell and young rookie Kimi Antonelli as their driver pairing for the 2025 season.
Recent struggles for Red Bull have sparked speculation about Verstappen potentially seeking a move if the team cannot deliver a competitive car. However, Vowles cautions Mercedes against replacing their current drivers with the highly-rated Dutchman.
`Undeniably, Max could bring added performance,` Vowles acknowledged. `Few would dispute his exceptional talent. His performance in Japan was truly impressive.`
`However,` Vowles continued, `there are complexities that come with such a move. Mercedes currently benefits from a strong team environment with two drivers performing at a high level, and one with significant growth potential. Therefore, in my opinion, Mercedes might not be the right environment for him.`
Laurence Edmondson analyzes the potential future for Red Bull should Max Verstappen decide to depart.
Vowles also expressed concern about the compatibility of a Russell-Verstappen driver partnership. Tensions reportedly arose between the two drivers at the end of the 2024 season.
`I am not convinced Verstappen and Russell would be a harmonious pairing,` Vowles stated. `They appear to be very different personalities.`
`Although I am not Toto,` Vowles added, `I believe Mercedes has secured a promising driver lineup for the future.`
`Kimi [Antonelli], despite my personal bias from working with him, is demonstrating rapid progress in qualifying each week, especially considering his limited experience in Formula 1 races.`
`He is on a trajectory to become highly competitive, and it makes sense to invest in that development. George is consistently performing well. While he may have been somewhat understated recently, his performance this year has been largely faultless.`
Dominic Ashworth