Mercedes to offer Max Verstappen 'THREE times' Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari salary

Mercedes is reportedly ready to offer Max Verstappen a salary three times that of Lewis Hamilton's expected earnings at Ferrari.

The Silver Arrows are said to be contemplating a bold move for Verstappen, who continues to be linked with a surprise departure from Red Bull. Adrian Newey's recent expression of interest in leaving Red Bull has added more uncertainty to Verstappen's long-term future with the reigning champions.

Despite being under contract until the end of 2028, there are suggestions that he might seek an early exit if Red Bull fails to resolve their internal issues. Mercedes, known to be great admirers of Verstappen, are reportedly prepared to break the bank to secure his services. According to OE24, they're gearing up to make a record-breaking offer that would see the Dutchman earn around £128million per season.

This staggering figure would more than double Verstappen's current salary at Red Bull, making him the highest-paid driver in F1 history by a significant margin. It would also mean the 26-year-old would earn nearly three times as much as Hamilton, who is set to receive a base salary of £43.6m per season at Ferrari. Mercedes is reportedly considering a strategic move to entice Helmut Marko, in an effort to make Max Verstappen feel more at home. This comes amid speculation that Verstappen has a clause in his contract allowing him to leave Red Bull before 2028 if Marko exits.

There's also buzz about a potential meeting between Mercedes and Verstappen at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix. Toto Wolff, the head honcho at Mercedes, isn't hiding his desire to bring Verstappen into the fold. Earlier this month, he remarked: "There's so many factors that play a role for a driver joining. Clearly, when you look