Max Verstappen reportedly pens new deal worth £40m-a-year

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has reportedly penned a new contract with the team that is set to bag him £40m-a-year according to reports.

The Dutchman is the reigning Formula 1 world champion after sealing a dramatic victory on the final lap of the final race of the 2021 season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

And, to reward and reflect that, Verstappen is now set to receive a massive pay hike that will take his wage from around £20m to £40m, which puts him in the same pay bracket as last season’s title rival Lewis Hamilton.

According to several outlets including Sky Sports and ESPN, the contract is agreed and will last until close to Max’s 30th birthday, meaning he’s currently looking set to spend well over a decade within the Red Bull team by the time that ends.

Dutch reporter Erik Van Haren for De Telegraaf reported the news first of all, with him close to the Verstappen family, and so barring Red Bull’s official confirmation of the news it looks as though Verstappen has got himself a pretty handy pay rise on the back of his efforts in 2021.

He’ll be looking, though, for plenty more glory in 2022 as the sport enters a brand new era with all-new cars and aerodynamic approaches.