'Lot of downsides' - Vowles warns Mercedes off Verstappen
Mercedes should steer clear of chasing Max Verstappen, reckons Williams F1 boss James Vowles, with potential "downsides" outweighing any of the speed benefits he could bring
Mercedes should steer clear of chasing Max Verstappen, reckons Williams Formula 1 boss James Vowles, with potential "downsides" outweighing any of the speed benefits he could bring.
Verstappen's future in Formula 1 has been the centre of speculation once again since Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko suggested after the Bahrain Grand Prix that the team has "great concern" about losing him for 2026.
Marko told Sky Germany: "Improvements have to come in the near future so that he has a car with which he can win again. We have to create a basis with a car so that he can fight for the world championship."
Those comments have increased talk that Verstappen could become a target of Mercedes, which openly flirted with him last year and has a seat available because George Russell's contract runs out at the end of this season.
One alternative scenario could even be for Mercedes to sort out a fresh deal with Russell and, if Verstappen suddenly becomes available, then it takes him and park 2025 F1 rookie Kimi Antonelli elsewhere.
Vowles, who spent many years at Mercedes as head of strategy, reckoned the squad would be foolish to forfeit all the benefits it has from its current line-up of Russell and Antonelli, even though he conceded Verstappen is faster.
Speaking on Friday about the possibility of Verstappen potentially joining Mercedes, Vowles said: "Can you add a tiny bit more performance? Yes, through Max.
"I think there is more performance to be added through Max. 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."
While Vowles did not elaborate on what downsides he was referring to, the signing of Verstappen would almost certainly bring an added intensity and focus on Mercedes and its management - both from the four-time F1 champion himself and his entourage, who are not afraid to let their feelings be known when things do not work.
Vowles also reckoned that, with Russell and Verstappen having had their differences in the past, it would be difficult for them to work alongside each other as team-mates.
Asked if they could operate together, Vowles said: "I don't think so. I think they're two very different characters.
"I would also say - and I'm not Toto - but I think he's got a really good driver line-up for the future.
"I think with Kimi - and yes, I'm biased because I worked with him for a long period of time - 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.
"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."
