Red Bull seems keen to give Max Verstappen a new, improved contract before the start of the Formula 1 season. The world champion is still with the formation from Milton Keynes until the end of 2023, but advisor Helmut Marko hinted earlier this week that he would like to talk to Verstappen and his camp about an extension.
Marko, however, immediately made a comment: Despite winning his first world title, Verstappen does not have to count on a huge salary increase. “We are almost at the limit with Max in terms of salary. It will stop once,” said the Austrian to Autorevue.
Marko’s rigid attitude seems a bit redundant, according to a number of insiders we recently spoke to for FORMULE 1 Magazine. Advertising man Lodewijk Varossieau has known Verstappen from his early childhood and says that money is a side issue for the Dutch driver. “Max is not concerned with that at all. That is a real sportsman, he is very pure. But I do think that he will become the most successful sportsman ever in the Netherlands, in the ranks of Johan Cruijff. Not only financially, but also commercially. He’s just really cool.”
Also read: Marko wants a new deal quickly, but: ‘We are almost at the limit in terms of salary’
Frank van den Wall Bake also knows Verstappen closely. A few years ago, the sports marketer saw a very young Verstappen enter his office with the help of manager Raymond Vermeulen. “Max is already insanely rich,” says Van den Wall Bake. “He has only one ambition and that is what is nice about Max: he wants to race and become world champion. And that he earns well with that is wonderful, but that’s it.”
‘Sportmilljardair’
Sports marketer Chris Woerts shares that opinion and does not expect the Verstappens to do the worst. He does think that the Red Bull driver will be warm after the end of his career. “He will be in the sport for at least another ten years, so in that respect he will be the first sports billionaire in the Netherlands. He pays little tax I guess, and he has a fairly frugal lifestyle. He doesn’t do crazy things.”
In the latest edition of FORMULE 1 Magazine, no. 02, you can read the complete interview with Varossieau, Van den Wall Bake and Woerts. FORMULA 1 Magazine no. 02 is now in the store or can be ordered here!
–
