Vowles: Verstappen ‘not a good fit’ for Mercedes future

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Williams team principal James Vowles has cast doubt on Max Verstappen's compatibility with Mercedes, suggesting the four-time world champion would not be an ideal addition to his former team's dynamic driver lineup.

Vowles, who transitioned to his role at Williams in 2023 after more than 20 years as a leading engineer at the Brackley-based team, weighed in on speculation linking Verstappen to Mercedes as Red Bull grapples with underwhelming early-season performances. Amid fresh rumors that Verstappen could seek an exit should Red Bull prove unable to deliver a competitive car, Vowles advised Mercedes to stand by its current trajectory with George Russell and rising star Kimi Antonelli as its drivers for 2025.

"Can you add a tiny bit more performance? Yes, I think there's more performance to be added through Max," Vowles acknowledged. "I don't think anyone in the room would deny that he is extraordinary in what he can do. [Verstappen's performance in] Japan was, for me, jaw-dropping. Well done to him.

"But he comes with a lot of downsides as well that you have to acknowledge. 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's on the way up. So I personally don't think that's the place for him."

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff attracted attention in recent years as he openly admired Verstappen’s talent, even sparking speculation of a potential bid for the Dutch driver. However, Wolff officially ended pursuit of the 27-year-old last summer, solidifying the team’s faith in Russell and 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli.

Vowles emphasized the importance of cultivating harmony within a team and expressed skepticism about how a Russell-Verstappen pairing would function. Tensions between the pair reached a boiling point in late 2024, with Russell branding Verstappen a "bully" and Verstappen firing back with his own jab, calling Russell a "loser."

"I don't think so," Vowles said when asked if the duo could thrive as teammates. "I think they're two very different characters."

He added further praise for Wolff’s current driver lineup: "I would also say — I'm not Toto — but I think he's got a really good driver line-up for the future. With Kimi [Antonelli], 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."

Antonelli, regarded as one of the sport’s most promising young talents, has already demonstrated significant growth during his debut season, a trajectory that Vowles believes will pay dividends for Mercedes.

"He's on a good pathway to be very, very competitive, so you keep investing in that," Vowles noted. "And George is delivering. You can't really fault... I mean, he's been a bit quiet, but you can't really fault anything he's done this year."

With Russell continuing to deliver solid performances and Antonelli gaining confidence with each race, Vowles sees no reason for Mercedes to disrupt its progress by introducing a polarizing figure such as Verstappen into the mix.

The future for Mercedes lies in fostering a “great culture” built around harmony and potential, rather than risking a volatile dynamic with a high-profile shakeup. Red Bull, on the other hand, must now navigate growing uncertainties surrounding the long-term allegiance of its star driver.

As the Formula One paddock continues to churn with speculation, one thing remains clear: Mercedes’ commitment to its young and evolving lineup could be its strongest asset in the seasons to come.

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