Williams Formula 1 boss James Vowles feels his former team Mercedes shouldn't try to lure Max Verstapꦕpen away from Red Bull.

Although Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull does👍n’t expire until the end of the 2028 season, a performance-based exit clause could allow the Dutchman to leave the team as early as next year.

With Red Bull struggling at the start of this year with an RB21 that is both sl♒ow and tricky to drive, speculation has been rife about Verstappen potentially breaking his deal and finding a home els꧃ewhere on the grid.

Should the four-time champion decide to leave the Milton Keynes squad, 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Mercedes will be one ofꩲ his best options, especially with the new 2026 regulations putting such heavy focus on new hybrid engines.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has publicly flirted with 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Verstappen in the past, while the team is also yet to ink a new deal with 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:George Russell for 2026 and beyond, creating a potential vacancy for the 2🦋7-year-old.

However, Vowles, who worked as strategy director at Mercedes until 2022, thinks Verstappen isn’t the right fit for the Brackley🏅-🐎based squad.

"I'm not Toto, but I think he's got a really good driver line-up for the f🔯uture,” he s♈aid.

"[Verstappen winning in] Japan was f𝓰or me jaw-dropping, well done to him, but he comes with a lot of downsides as well that you have to acknowledge.

"And I think what Mercedes does have is a gr𒊎eat 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 thi𒁏nk there's a place for [Verstappen]."

Following the loss of seven-time F1 champion 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari, Mercedes fast-tracked the arrival of rising star 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Andrea Kimi Antonelli into𒆙 F1, with the ꦅItalian completing thousands of miles in old grand prix machinery as preparation for his debut in 2025.

Russell has also raised his ♊game since taking on the role of team leader, finishing on the podium in three of the opening five races to help Mercedes climb up to second in the standings.

Expanding on his comments, Vowles said there are several reasons why Mercedes should keep hold off both Russell and 𒅌Antonelli instead of chasing after Verstappen.

“As I said, Max is absolutely extraordinary," Vowl🎃es told Sky Sports.

"I was blown away, for example, by Japan by his [pole] lap. Th🦂ere was no doubting u👍p and down the pit lane how quick he is.

"It was more that Mercedes have a really good proble🅷m.

"But the bit that they've got at the moment is a stable environment, a culture that works, two drivers that are working together, one that's on the way up, and I think for them to chop and change that out for a driver as🐎 quick as Max still may not be the right decision.

"It's theirs to make but that was more𒆙 my commentary."