Mercedes is not the right place for Max Verstappen, says James Vowles

Max Verstappen’s future continues to spark speculation in the Formula 1 paddock after Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko said the team had a “great concern” over the world champion departing.

Verstappen retained his title last year but in a car that went from dominating to almost an also-ran by the end of the year as McLaren and Ferrari took the top two spots in the constructors’ standings.

There has been a similar pattern at the start of 2025, with McLaren once again looking dominant – albeit with Verstappen putting in a fine performance over the course of the Japanese Grand Prix to seal victory at Suzuka.

Crisis talks were held following an altogether more disappointing weekend in Bahrain last time out, leading to some questions over Verstappen’s future.

There would not be many teams on the grid who could afford the Dutchman, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso casting doubts on being paired with Verstappen for next year.

Mercedes could be another option if Verstappen sought an out from Red Bull – but its former strategy director James Vowles has advised against a move.

“I think there is more performance to be added through Max,” said the Williams team boss on the Friday of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

“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.”

Not only would a surprise move for Verstappen mean Mercedes would have to farm out Andrea Kimi Antonelli to make room but, with George Russell – who had a high-profile spat with Verstappen in Qatar and Abu Dhabi – looking set to sign a new deal, Vowles feels there would be even more negatives to the signing.

“I don’t think so – I think they’re two very different characters,” he replied when asked if Russell and Verstappen could coexist.

“I’m not Toto [Wolff, Mercedes boss] – 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.”