Discussions about a 'billion-dollar' deal for Verstappen are intensifying.
Max Verstappen's new contract with Red Bull is being considered one of the largest sporting agreements in history, although Laurent Mekies has already disputed the reported salary figures. On the Pit Talk podcast, former F1 driver Robert Doornbos mentioned that Verstappen's total earnings through 2030 could potentially reach near the billion-dollar mark when bonuses and personal sponsorships are factored in. "Depending on whether he becomes world champion and if more personal sponsorships come in, like substantial deals such as Heineken, the payment could increase," he stated. "Max is among the elite in global sports entrepreneurship. He will be the first Dutch sports billionaire."
Doornbos indicated that Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, and Red Bull executive Oliver Mintzlaff are the pivotal figures behind this agreement. "He understands Red Bull's value and what Max stands for," he added. "Max is worth every cent for Red Bull." Meanwhile, Nico Rosberg suggested a salary of around 80 million euros per season while speaking to Kolner Express, asserting that Verstappen's significance to Red Bull extends beyond mere driving performance. "They need stability, so they offer him a bit more money," he explained. "The range is between 70 and 90 million per year, so let’s settle on 80 million."
Rosberg also opined that Verstappen's alleged discussions with McLaren were primarily a tactic for leverage. "He certainly negotiated with McLaren, but I believe it was mainly to strengthen his position at Red Bull," said the 2016 world champion. At Zandvoort, Rosberg directly asked Mekies about the salary rumors during a Sky interview. "What I hear is 80 million a year," he remarked to the Red Bull executive. "Is that true?" Mekies smiled and replied that Rosberg was "not correct." He maintained that Verstappen's decision was fundamentally based on his trust in Red Bull's technical team. "It really comes down to the confidence that Max has in the 2,000 people we have in Milton Keynes, both on the chassis and power unit sides." "He understands what our team is capable of and has opted to place his trust in us for the future. For us, he’s much more than just the fastest driver in the world."
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