Vowles: Verstappen Might Not Fit at Mercedes F1

Why Verstappen’s Personality Doesn’t Suit Mercedes F1.

James Vowles warns that Max Verstappen’s personality and needs may clash with Mercedes F1’s current team dynamics and long-term plans.

James Vowles, the team principal of Williams F1, believes that Max Verstappen joining Mercedes F1 could have significant drawbacks. According to Vowles, the Dutch driver might not be the best fit for the team, especially given his clear and established position as a number one driver.

Vowles, who previously served as Mercedes F1’s strategy director, shared his views amid speculation about Verstappen’s future, which has been linked to potential seats at teams like Aston Martin or Mercedes, should he leave Red Bull due to performance struggles and a lack of confidence in their development path.

“There’s no doubt that Max brings immense performance to a car,” Vowles said. “No one can deny that he’s exceptional at what he does. His performance in Japan, for instance, was outstanding—hats off to him.”

“But he also has flaws that need to be recognized. Mercedes has a strong team culture, with two drivers who are at the top of their game, and another who is showing solid progress.”

Vowles went on to express his personal view: “I don’t think Mercedes is the right place for Max, given his personality and his desire to have a team completely behind him.”

If Verstappen were to join Mercedes, it would likely come at the expense of either George Russell, who has been part of Mercedes’ junior team since 2017, or rookie Kimi Antonelli.

When asked about the possibility of Verstappen and Russell being teammates, Vowles was firm: “I don’t think that would work.”

“They’re both very different personalities. And I’m not Toto Wolff, but he already has a great driver pairing for the future.”

On Antonelli, Vowles showed a personal bias, having worked closely with him, but praised the young driver’s progress: “If you look at Kimi’s development, especially in qualifying, he’s improving every week. He’s only raced in four Grands Prix, and he’s already on track to become very, very competitive. He’s someone to keep investing in.”

“And as for George, he’s been solid. He’s kept a low profile, but honestly, there’s nothing to fault him for this season.”

In short, while Verstappen’s talents are undeniable, Vowles believes that his personality and needs might not align with what Mercedes F1 has cultivated with their current driver lineup.

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Vowles: Verstappen Might Not Fit at Mercedes F1 Vowles: Verstappen Might Not Fit at Mercedes F1