Max Verstappen is reportedly earning a base salary of $50m (or \u00a337.3m) per year under his Red Bull contract. That matched Lewis Hamilton\u2019s Mercedes earnings, prior to bonuses.<\/p>\n
Verstappen<\/a> signed his deal in March 2022, shortly after he became F1 world champion for the first time. That huge contract runs until the end of 2028. <\/p>\n But there are major doubts over whether the Dutchman will fulfil that deal. Verstappen\u2019s contract contains exit clauses<\/a> that are tied to the competitiveness of his Red Bull<\/a> car.<\/p>\n Verstappen\u2019s release clauses become more favourable<\/a> as his contract goes on. Some believe Red Bull would honour his wishes if he asked to leave regardless, but he is by far the team\u2019s biggest asset.<\/p>\n Mercedes have presented Max Verstappen with a \u2018ballpark figure\u2019 for 2026<\/p>\n Speaking on ESPN\u2019s Unlapped podcast, journalist Nate Saunders offered an indication of how far Mercedes<\/a> have progressed in talks with Verstappen. They are the only team who could tempt him away for next year.<\/p>\n Saunders says Mercedes have presented the broad financials to the reigning world champion. Without Red Bull\u2019s permission, he couldn\u2019t sign a contract unless his exit clause becomes active.<\/p>\n There was \u2018frustration\u2019 from Verstappen\u2019s camp in 2023 that he didn\u2019t receive his full win bonus after his 12 victory (he won a record 19 Grands Prix that year). That\u2019s something Toto Wolff<\/a> could look to rectify.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom what I understand, Verstappen and his camp know roughly the kind of ballpark figure Mercedes might offer if a deal was forthcoming,\u201d Saunders said. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean one is forthcoming. The idea that they\u2019re doing this two weeks before the summer break? I don\u2019t quite buy it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cHe cannot sign anything until the start of the summer break. When that chequered flag drops at the Hungarian Grand Prix, if he\u2019s fourth [in the championship], from what I understand, that would open that up to him.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he\u2019s third when the Hungarian Grand Prix finishes, it doesn\u2019t matter what he\u2019s signed or what he wants to do. He physically can\u2019t leave.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Verstappen deal was a reported $50m a year, which at the time brought him level with Lewis. But you might look at that now, especially if you\u2019re Max and say, \u2018Well I\u2019m a four-time world champion now, the sport is worth way more money than it was before\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember hearing in 2023 that the bonuses that were attached to Max\u2019s deal actually capped out at about 12 wins. He was winning races that year when he went on that amazing run, and towards the end, suddenly he wasn\u2019t getting anything.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a frustration in the camp of \u2018well actually, this deal we\u2019ve signed now, we\u2019d like to get a new one\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Max Verstappen may see no way back for Red Bull after what happened at Silverstone<\/p>\n