Max Verstappen emerged as the winner in a highly controversial manner at the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP. Now, former Mercedes Strategy Director and current Williams Team Principal James Vowles has expressed his belief that a title won unfairly will haunt the winner for the rest of their life.
Formula 1 is a high-stakes sport where every moment counts. Teams go to great lengths to gain even the slightest advantage over their rivals. However, there are instances where teams and drivers resort to unfair tactics. Vowles recently discussed his thoughts on the contentious victory of Verstappen in the 2021 Abu Dhabi championship, where the Dutch driver controversially secured the title against his rival.
The Williams Team Principal emphasized that anyone could win a championship with the right equipment. Yet, Vowles indirectly alluded to the questionable circumstances surrounding the 2021 championship battle in Abu Dhabi. The British racing executive stated that winning a championship through unfair and unsportsmanlike behavior would lead to a lifetime of regrets.
Furthermore, Vowles highlighted that a championship won in such a manner would lack true impressiveness. According to the 44-year-old, a title achieved through unfair means is tainted, compromised, and impure. Therefore, Williams’ principal did not acknowledge Verstappen’s victory at the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP as legitimate, as he believed it was obtained under unfair circumstances.
In addition to the usual preparations for the 2024 season, significant developments for the following year are already underway. With ‘s move to Ferrari, a driver seat at Mercedes is now vacant. However, Vowles did not completely dismiss the possibility of Verstappen joining Mercedes in the near future.
Verstappen himself has not ruled out the potential of joining Mercedes to collaborate with the team based in Brackley. The Dutch driver explained that if a team genuinely desires to have him on board, they will make the necessary efforts to secure the reigning world champion. Nevertheless, Verstappen is currently under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028 and is likely to honor that commitment.
Therefore, the 26-year-old will not be available in the market to join Mercedes anytime soon. Nevertheless, speculations continue to arise regarding Verstappen’s potential move to Mercedes following Hamilton’s departure. Ultimately, only time will reveal the developments in the 2025 season, which is expected to bring significant changes to the Formula 1 grid.
According to the Source firstsportz.com