F1 LIVE: Mercedes warned not to sign Max Verstappen as FIA decide Lewis Hamilton fate

Max Verstappen and George Russell are 'not compatible' as team-mates according to Williams team principal and ex-Mercedes strategy director James Vowles.

Four-time world champion Verstappen has long been linked with a move to Mercedes, especially now that Lewis Hamilton has left for Ferrari.

It has been speculated Verstappen could depart his current team at the end of 2025 with McLaren comfortably clear of them so far this season.

But Vowles has raised red flags as to whether Mercedes' No.1 driver Russell and Verstappen could drive for the same team.

Vowles said: "I don't think so. I think they're two very different characters. I would also say - I'm not Toto - but I think he's got a really good driver line-up for the future.

"With Kimi [Antonelli] and yes, I'm biased, because I worked with him for a long period of time, but if you just look at the steps he's making in qualifying, he's making steps every single week, and he's only driven effectively four Grand Prix races.

"He's on a good pathway to be very, very competitive, so you keep investing in that, and George is delivering. You can't really fault... I mean, he's been a bit quiet, but you can't really fault anything he's done this year."