Williams boss James Vowles has warned his former employer Mercedes against targeting reigning Formula 1 Champion Max Verstappen.
A below-par performance in the Bahrain Grand Prix from Red Bull restrained Verstappen to a sixth-place finish, and the team’s issues with the RB21 have fuelled speculation that the Dutchman could look elsewhere.
Aston Martin has been named as a potential suitor in the past, but Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has been afraid to court Verstappen either, having missed out on signing the Dutchman as a teenager ahead of his Toro Rosso debut in 2015.
Vowels, however, has warned that despite Verstappen’s incredible talent, the Dutchman may not be the right cultural fit for the Silver Arrows.
“I think there is more performance to be added through Max,” Vowels said on Friday during the Saudi Arabian GP (via Autosport).
“I don’t think anyone in the room would deny that he is extraordinary in what he can do, and 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 and 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’s on the way up.
“So I personally don’t think that’s a place for him.”
Mercedes driver lineup looks settled
Indeed, if Mercedes were to sign Verstappen, who has remained adamant he’s happy where he is, it would mean parting ways with two very settled drivers.
George Russell, in his fourth season with the team, is leading the Mercedes charge with aplomb, having scored three podium results in four rounds, which has potentially earned him a contract extension.
Then, there is 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes’ sensational rookie who has been a part of the Brackley-based outfit’s academy set-up for over half a decade.
Last month, Wolff said, “It is almost an open secret that we have every intention to keep our drivers for the long term.”
So there’s a slim chance Verstappen could find himself in the Mercedes line up and regardless, Vowles doesn’t see him and Russell being a good fit if that were to transpire.
“I don’t think so – I think they’re two very different characters,” he said.
“I’m not Toto, but I think he’s got a really good driver line-up for the future.
“I think with Kimi, and I’m biased because I worked with him for a long period of time, if you just look at the steps he is 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 being very, very competitive, so you keep investing in that, and George is delivering.
“You can’t really fault [him]; I mean, he’s been a bit quiet, but you can’t really fault anything he’s done this year.”
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