James Vowles, the head of the Williams Formula 1 team, recently commented on the speculation linking four-time world champion Max Verstappen to Mercedes. Vowles, who previously served as Mercedes` head of strategy, suggested that while Verstappen is “absolutely extraordinary,” signing him might come with significant “downsides” and could ultimately “not be the right decision” for his former team.
Verstappen`s future at Red Bull has become a recurring topic of discussion, partly due to the team`s somewhat inconsistent start to the current season and reports of a potential exit clause in his contract, which runs until 2028, that could be activated later this year under certain conditions.
Should Verstappen become available, Mercedes has long been considered a prime candidate to sign him. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has openly expressed his admiration and interest in the Dutch driver in the past, particularly during earlier periods of uncertainty surrounding Verstappen`s Red Bull commitment.
Mercedes` driver line-up for 2026 remains undecided. Currently, George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli are confirmed only for the present season.
The possibility of Verstappen entering the driver market in the near future would undoubtedly cause a major shift across Formula 1. However, Vowles voiced his reservations about Mercedes potentially disrupting their developing partnership of Russell and Antonelli to bring Verstappen on board.
Speaking to reporters at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Vowles was quoted as saying, “I`m not Toto, but I think he`s got a really good driver line-up for the future… [Verstappen winning in] Japan was for me jaw-dropping… but he comes with a lot of downsides as well that you have to acknowledge.”
He added that Mercedes benefits from “a great culture” with two drivers performing close to the car`s capability, with one driver (Antonelli) still developing. “So I personally don`t think there`s a place for [Verstappen],” Vowles concluded at that time.
Vowles Elaborates: Mercedes Has a “Really Good Problem”
Later in Jeddah, speaking to Sky Sports F1, Vowles expanded on his earlier comments.
“I mean the first thing is, as I said, Max is absolutely extraordinary,” the Williams team principal reiterated. He praised Verstappen`s speed, particularly his pole lap in Japan, calling it “jaw-dropping” and stating that his pace is undeniable in the paddock.
“It was more that Mercedes have a really good problem,” Vowles clarified, referring to their fortunate position with their current drivers.
He highlighted that Mercedes has “two excellent drivers” and stressed that the decision to make changes rests entirely with Mercedes. However, he emphasized the stability, positive culture, and cooperative dynamic Mercedes currently enjoys with its pairing.
Vowles concluded that replacing this setup with a driver, even one as fast as Max Verstappen, might not be the most beneficial long-term decision for Mercedes. “It`s theirs to make but that was more my commentary,” he added, stating it was simply his personal perspective.
Meanwhile, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has publicly maintained confidence that Max Verstappen will remain with the team for the upcoming year.
What Have Mercedes Said About Verstappen?
Addressing the persistent links between Max Verstappen and the Silver Arrows, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff also spoke to Sky Sports F1 during the Saudi Arabian GP weekend.
Wolff stated that Mercedes had not held any discussions with the reigning four-time world champion.
“I always say I don`t flirt outside if I`m happy in the relationship on a professional level,” Wolff remarked, indicating his satisfaction with his current driver situation.
He expressed extreme contentment with their existing line-up, saying, “I`m super happy with the line-up we have, I couldn`t wish for anything better.” Wolff affirmed, “Max is at Red Bull, we haven`t had a conversation, we are continuing our trajectory.” This indicates Mercedes is currently focused on their own path with their existing drivers rather than pursuing Verstappen.
