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Max Verstappen will now reportedly rival Lewis Hamilton as F1's top earner after penning a lucrative new deal at Red Bull.

The 24-year-old heads into the new 2022 campaign on the back of his maiden world title win, following a sensational finish to the last campaign where he overtook Hamilton on the final lap of December's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

In the aftermath of his dramatic success at the Yas Marina, Verstappen expressed his desire to stay with his team "for the rest of my life."

And that prospect appears a step closer after the Dutchman put pen to paper on a long-term contract, reportedly worth £40 million a year - according to the Daily Mail .

It means he will match the money made by Mercedes man Hamilton, 37, whose current deal with the Constructors' champions runs until the end of 2023.

According to the report, Verstappen visited the team’s factory in Milton Keynes on Tuesday to finish finalising the deal, having verbally committed to the staggering terms during the three days of pre-season testing in Barcelona last week.

And given the reported length of the contract, Verstappen's package with Red Bull represents the richest in the sport's history.

A Red Bull source allegedly told the Daily Mail : "It has all been agreed. Max is staying for a long time, maybe even five years extra. It also equates to a substantial