Verstappen's Mercedes Move Doubtful, Says Vowles

Williams team boss James Vowles cautions Mercedes about the potential downsides of signing Max Verstappen, citing the team's current strong driver lineup.

Williams team boss James Vowles cautioned Mercedes about the potential downsides of signing Max Verstappen. Vowles believes that Mercedes would be better off sticking with their current drivers rather than pursuing the four-time champion. “A lot of downsides” would come with signing Verstappen, according to Vowles.

Speculation about Verstappen's future has intensified after Red Bull's Helmut Marko expressed concerns about the driver's potential departure at the end of the season. Despite having a contract until 2028 with exit clauses, Verstappen's future has been a topic of discussion, with teams like Mercedes, McLaren, and Aston Martin potentially interested in signing him. Mercedes' Toto Wolff previously expressed interest in Verstappen, while McLaren's Zak Brown predicted a move to Mercedes for 2026.

Williams team boss James Vowles believes Mercedes has a strong driver lineup and shouldn't pursue Max Verstappen. “I'm not Toto, but I think he's got a really good driver lineup for the future,” Vowles said, referring to Mercedes' current drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

Vowles acknowledged Verstappen's exceptional driving skills, citing his impressive performance in Japan. However, he emphasized that Verstappen “comes with a lot of downsides as well that you have to acknowledge.” Vowles thinks Mercedes is better off with its current drivers, who are “delivering near to the peak of the car,” and Antonelli, who is “on the way up.” “So I personally don't think there's a place for (Verstappen),” he added.

Williams team boss James Vowles praised Mercedes' young driver Kimi Antonelli, saying he's “making steps every single week” despite limited Grand Prix experience. “He's on a good pathway to be very, very competitive, so you keep investing in that,” Vowles said, highlighting Antonelli's potential.

Vowles also commended Mercedes' current driver George Russell, stating, "George is delivering... you can't really fault anything he's done this year." He believes Mercedes has a strong lineup with Antonelli's potential and Russell's current performance.

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen and Red Bull currently sit third in the championship after four races. Verstappen impressed with a win from pole at Suzuka, showcasing his driving prowess.

James Vowles doesn't believe Mercedes should pursue Max Verstappen if he becomes available 👀 pic.twitter.com/kWN86cTW4A

— Autosport (@autosport) April 18, 2025

Tensions flared in Bahrain last week after Max Verstappen finished sixth, adding to speculation about his future. Verstappen and George Russell had a public disagreement last season, and Williams boss James Vowles doubts they would work well together, especially with Russell's contract set to expire at the end of the year.

Recent reports suggest Aston Martin is a strong contender to sign Verstappen. A potential move would reunite him with former Red Bull designer Adrian Newey and partner him with Honda engines. According to Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport, Aston Martin is prepared to offer Verstappen $88 million annually for three years, backed by Saudi funding from title sponsor Aramco.