Formula E pays $250,000 to charity after Verstappen wins F1 title

LONDON : Max Verstappen has assured Formula E he will be watching their races after the electric series donated $250,000 to charity following a bet on the Red Bull driver's fourth successive Formula One title.

Formula E chief executive Jeff Dodds promised in February to pay the sum should Verstappen fail to win the title, a wager made to highlight how predictable he felt Formula One was compared to his series.

After Verstappen did so, but in a far more competitive and thrilling season than predicted, Dodds decided to donate the money anyway.

The cash will be split equally between Red Bull's Wings for Life foundation for spinal cord research and a new fund to provide greater opportunities for women in motorsport.

"What started as a very tongue-in-cheek 'bet' at the start of the season has evolved into a serious commitment to support gender equity within our championship, with the ultimate goal of seeing women competing full-time in Formula E," said Dodds.

Verstappen, who collects his F1 winner's trophy at a gala awards ceremony in Rwanda on Friday, told Dodds in a video call that it was a "great shout" and "I’ll be watching the championship during my time off."

Dodds told Reuters Formula E had commissioned the More Than Equal organisation, co-founded by former F1 racer David Coulthard, to carry out research into the barriers women experience in motorsport.

He said two women had been contracted to drive in Formula E's general rookie test next year, without naming names, which serves as a pathway to Formula E.

"That's where seats can kind of get determined, or drivers get invested in for simulator work through the rest of the season," he said

"So I think the first season we could potentially see a woman go straight into the seat is