 "Mercedes reportedly wants Verstappen to fill Hamilton void, but former employee warns: 'He comes with a lot of downsides'")
Max Verstappen is heavily linked with a move to Mercedes, but a former employee of the Formula 1 team feels it will be a bad decision. Mercedes currently has 27-year-old George Russell and teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli as their drivers, but it has been reported by multiple media houses that they would go for four-time world champion Verstappen in 2026.
Mercedes reportedly wants to bring in Verstappen to fill the void left by the departure of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.
Vowles feels Mercedes and Verstappen will not work out
However, former Mercedes strategy director and current Williams team principal, James Vowles, feels Verstappen joining Mercedes has its own “downsides”.
Asked if Verstappen will join Mercedes in 2026, Vowles said: “I don’t think so, no.”
“So, can you add a tiny bit more performance? Yes, through Max. I don’t think anyone in the world would deny that he is extraordinary.
“His victory in Japan a few weeks ago was jaw-dropping. Well done to him but he comes with a lot of downsides that you have to acknowledge.
“Mercedes have a great culture with two drivers that are delivering near to the peak of the car. I don’t think there is a place for Max.”
Vowles added that Verstappen may not be compatible with Russell and there’s no reason for Mercedes to change their current driver line-up.
“He and George are very different characters. I am not Toto (Wolff, Mercedes team principal), but I think he has got a really good driver line-up for the future. With Kimi, look at the steps he is making in qualifying, steps he is making every week, and he’s only effectively driven four grands prix.
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More Shorts“He’s on a good pathway to be very, very competitive, so you keep investing in that.
“And George is delivering. He’s been a bit quiet, but you can’t really fault anything he’s done this year.”
Both Russell and Antonelli will be out of contract at the end of 2025, but they are expected to get extension deals. Russell already has three podiums in 202,5 while the 18-year-old Antonelli has shown a lot of promise.
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