Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has been warned against signing Max Verstappen by former Silver Arrows strategy chief James Vowles. Verstappen has emerged as a surprise target for Mercedes amid Red Bull’s woes this season.
The Dutchman has won four successive world titles with the Austrian team, but they have slipped back behind McLaren this year. While Verstappen is only eight points behind championship leader Lando Norris, he needed the drive of his career to win the Japanese Grand Prix.
Verstappen is understood to have a release clause in his contract related to performance. That could put him on the market if Red Bull are unable to deliver a winning car for their star man.
Mercedes were heavily linked with a move for the Dutchman last year after Lewis Hamilton announced his move to Ferrari. Instead, they made George Russell team leader and promoted rookie Kimi Antonelli into the second seat.
And Vowles, who won eight consecutive constructors’ championships as Mercedes’ strategy chief, believes it is a line-up they should keep for the long-term. He highlighted concerns over Verstappen’s ability to fit in with Mercedes’ culture.
“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.
“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.”
Russell and Verstappen infamously clashed towards the end of last season following the Qatar Grand Prix. The Englishman labelled his Red Bull rival a bully and alleged that Verstappen threatened to “put me on my f***ing head in the wall”.
Verstappen hit back at those accusations, calling the Silver Arrows man a ‘loser’. While relations between the duo have now calmed down, Vowles insists that they could not be part of the same team.
“I don’t think so – I think they’re two very different characters,” he added. “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.”
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