Williams group principal James Vowles doesn’t suppose Mercedes ought to make a transfer for Max Verstappen.
A possible transfer for Verstappen has develop into an enormous speaking level in Jeddah after Crimson Bull group adviser Helmut Marko admitted after a disappointing race in Bahrain that “the priority is nice” about Verstappen’s future.
Mercedes group boss Toto Wolff has beforehand proven an curiosity in Verstappen, even holding talks together with his camp final summer season earlier than each events opted towards making a transfer.
Wolff mentioned in Australia that Verstappen was not at present on his radar for a doable transfer, and that his focus was on the present line-up of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, who’s out of contract on the finish of the season.
Vowles labored for a very long time at Mercedes previous to taking the highest job at Williams, successfully serving as Wolff’s right-hand man because the group’s motorsport technique director.
Speaking to reporters right this moment, Vowles mentioned he didn’t suppose a doable line up of Russell and Verstappen would work given they have been “two very totally different characters,” and thought Mercedes already had a “actually good driver line-up for the long run.”
💬 “With Kimi, and sure, I’m biased as a result of I labored with him for a protracted time period, however in case you simply have a look at the steps he’s making in qualifying, he’s making steps each single week, and he’s solely pushed successfully 4 grand prix races.
“He’s on a very good pathway to be very, very aggressive, so you retain investing in that and George is delivering. I imply, he’s been a bit quiet however you possibly can’t actually fault something he’s completed this 12 months.
“So are you able to add a tiny bit extra efficiency? Sure, by means of Max. I believe there’s extra efficiency available by means of Max, and I don’t suppose anybody within the room would deny he’s extraordinary in what he can do. Japan was, for me, jaw-dropping. Nicely completed to him.
“However he comes with loads of downsides as effectively that we’ve to acknowledge. I believe what Mercedes does have is a good tradition with two drivers which are delivering close to to the height of the automotive, and with one that’s on the best way up.
“So I personally don’t suppose that’s the place for him.”
