This week, Red Bull announced the multimillion-dollar renewal of Max Verstappen’s contract until 2028, and although it was long overdue, from the day he became world champion, talks accelerated.
After the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix , the Dutch driver knew that he wanted to remain linked to the energy drinks team for life, and the commitment he has reached is a good example of this.
Helmut Marko , however, hinted that Verstappen’s deal would be very similar financially, as Red Bull could not offer much more. Far from that statement, it is rumored that the reigning champion will pocket around 50 million euros a year.
“I’m not going to speculate on the amounts,” Marko replied to F1 Insider . “I can only say that both parties are satisfied and will continue to be.”
This stance on the part of Red Bull, which has secured one of the best on the grid for the long haul, comes as no surprise. The Austrian team has been able to carry out this operation thanks to the important sponsorship it has obtained with Oracle, which will fill the coffers of Milton Keynes at a rate of about one hundred million euros per season, which translates into almost the total of the budget limit imposed for Formula 1.
However, it must be taken into account that it is possible that the pilots’ salaries change from 2023, and a cap is expected for those who risk their lives on the asphalt.
Max Verstappen is a showcase for partners and potential collaborators, including Porsche . If the Volkswagen group joins forces with the German firm by 2026, the Dutch driver could act as a reference figure, both sportingly and publicly.
The panorama means that Red Bull has tied the world champion for a long time, something that the Austrian structure boasts, as Helmut Marko himself confirms: “The duration of this contract shows how much we value Max.”
“Red Bull does not sign long-term contracts. It is no secret that character is a trait that is considered very important in the team,” the 78-year-old adviser continued.
Verstappen will be the figure on which Red Bull turns from here to the future, and you only have to look back to see the treatment of those from Milton Keynes until they made him a world champion.
