The hiring of Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen would bring “many disadvantages” to Mercedes, and it would be better for the team to keep their riders current, said Williams chief James Vowles on Friday (18).
The sport was swept by speculation about Verstappen’s future after Red Bull’s Automobile Consultant Helmut Marko expressed concern about the possibility of the Dutch driver to leave the team at the end of the season.
Verstappen, a four consecutive champion who would be one of the main targets of anyone who could pay for him, has a contract until 2028, subject to exit clauses.
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff expressed interest in hiring Verstappen last year, and McLaren team chief Zak Brown said in March that he expects Red Bull driver to go to Mercedes in 2026, with Aston Martin another possibility.
Vowles, who was Mercedes Automobile Strategy Director and a confidant near Wolff before joining Williams with Mercedes in 2023, suggested that George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are the best bet.
“I’m not a Toto, but I think he has a very good riders line for the future,” he told reporters during a brunch at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix in Jeddah. “For me, Verstappen’s victory in Japan was jaw -falling, congratulations to him, but he also has a lot of disadvantages that need to be recognized.” “And I think Mercedes has a great culture with two riders coming close to the car’s peak and one that is rising.” “Therefore, personally, I don’t think there is a place to [Verstappen]. “
Vowles worked closely with Antonelli, 18, while the Italian was in the basic categories of motorsport.
“He is taking steps every week and only effectively drove four prize races,” he said. “He’s on a good way to be very, very competitive, so you keep investing in it.” “And George is fulfilling his promised … You can’t really blame anything he did this year.”
Red Bull and Verstappen are in third place in the championship after four races, although Verstappen won an impressive victory in Suzuka.
The Dutch pilot has the support of his manager Raymond Vermeulen and his father and former pilot Jos, who last year asked Red Bull’s Christian Horner to leave office amid allegations of improper behavior of which the boss was later innocent.
The spirits were exalted at Bahrain last week after Verstappen ended only in sixth place.
Russell, who is out of contract at the end of the year, and Verstappen also fell out publicly last season and Vowles doubted that their union would work.
The latest media reports focused on Aston Martin, a movement that would meet Verstappen with former Red Bull designer Adrian Newey and Honda engines.
Honda is leaving Red Bull at the end of the year to enter a new engine era in an exclusive partnership with Aston Martin.
The newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport, from Italy, suggested, without providing its information, that Aston was ready to offer Verstappen $ 88 million a year for three years, with Saudi financing.
Aston Martin, controlled by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, has the Saudi Giant of Energy Aramco as the main sponsor.
