Vowles explains earlier remark about Verstappen and Mercedes: 'Their decision, but not the right one'

James Vowles has had another say surrounding the Max Verstappen and Mercedes rumours, saying it "may not be the right decision" for the German team, after speaking about these rumours earlier today with GPblog.

Earlier today, the Williams team boss, a former strategist at Mercedes, said it would not be the right fit, with Verstappen coming with "a lot of downsides", to several media sources, including GPblog, at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

There have been increased rumours surrounding the Dutchman and his chance of leaving Red Bull Racing if the Austrian team does not fight back to the front of the grid and challenge for titles, with Helmut Marko admitting that he is concerned that the four-time world champion may leave.

Mercedes "have a really good problem" with their driver lineup

Vowles, speaking on Sky Sports F1 after FP2 around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, first spoke about the sublime talet that Verstappen is, portraying his amazement at what the Dutchman did at the Japanese Grand Prix.

"The first thing is, as I said this morning, Max is absolutely extraordinary. I was blown away, for example, by Japan, by his lap. There is no doubt, up and down the pit lane, how quick he is," the British team boss said.

However, the setup that Mercedes currently have is something that Vowles would not break up if he were the decision maker at the German team.

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"It was more that Mercedes have a really good problem. They've got two excellent drivers, and that's more about if Mercedes going to make a change in that regard. That's for them to really comment on.

"The bit that they've got at the moment is a stable environment, a culture that works, two drivers that are working together, and one that's on the way up. 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 their decision to make, but that was more my commentary," concluded Vowles.