Villeneuve : Mercedes Has No Room for Verstappen

“Toto Wolff has his two drivers, Russell and Antonelli, so why would he replace one?” Villeneuve said of the Mercedes talent pool. “George has been pushing the team forward, and you wouldn’t imagine dropping Kimi.”

Villeneuve told Vision4Sport that there is a changing landscape in Formula 1, where team bosses now attract as much attention as drivers: “Team principals used to focus on their teams, but now they’re stars themselves, pulling strings and using the media."

Nevertheless, Wolff coveted Max's services and probably still does. But with Red Bull supposedly ousting Christian Horner as team principal to pacify the Verstappen camp, making it their team in doing so. The four-time F1 world champion is signed with the team until the end of 2028 if all goes according to their plan.

Villeneuve questioned whether Verstappen’s aggressive approach would be a fit for all teams, warning that not every outfit wants a dominant personality leading the charge. “It depends on what kind of team you want.

"Max is a passionate racer who gives everything, but not every team wants a one-man show like it was at Red Bull. Some are happy in the midfield, without too much pressure or attention," he said, of the driver and what many call Team Verstappen.

Villeneuve linked growing speculation over Horner’s future to recent changes behind the scenes at Red Bull, including a minor shift in ownership. “The Austrians buying a 2% share from the Thais makes sense as a factor. There were always two camps: the Helmut Marko–Verstappen camp and the Horner–Thai camp.”

The Canadian suggested that stability at Red Bull was shaken following the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz: “When the big boss goes, that’s when the fights start."