Fans will forever speculate on the safety-car controversy that took place at the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP. While some believe that Lewis Hamilton was ‘robbed’ of a record-breaking eighth title, others will argue that Max Verstappen was the true champion that season.
Regardless of who is right and wrong here, one thing from that race is now certain: The 2021 Abu Dhabi GP laid the foundations for the Max Verstappen era of Formula 1. Since then, he clinched the 2022 title almost effortlessly, and in 2023, he’s won 10 out of 12 races held so far! It is thus no surprise that this dominance has caught the eye of rival teams and team bosses, like Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren.
Zak Brown sheds light on Verstappen’s incredible year
Since the beginning of the season, Red Bull has effectively run a train on the constructor’s hopes for other teams, winning every race this season so far. However, out of 12 races won, 10 of the first-place trophies went home with Max while Mexican driver Sergio Perez could only clinch two.
This disparity in performance has not escaped the eye of Mclaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, who recently via an interview with ESPN made the claim that in the absence of Max Verstappen at Red Bull, the championship would have been “wide open.”
“As much as Red Bull’s killing everyone right now… it’s really Max is killing everyone right now,” Brown said. “That Max, Red Bull combination is just unbeatable at the moment and Max and the team isn’t making any mistakes. If they had two Sergios in the car, with all due respect, this championship would kind of be wide open. So you’ve got something pretty special going on with Max and Red Bull.”
There is an aura of doubt in the F1 paddock and community surrounding Checo’s future at Red Bull. On the other hand, Verstappen seems to have solidified his place not just at Red Bull but in F1 history, with his decorated win record speaking for itself. Even from a financial standpoint, Max is reeling in money like never before considering the incentives that are a part of his contract!
How much does Max Verstappen get for a win?
In 2023, Max Verstappen’s net worth is around $200,000,000, ranking him at 26th on Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes. The reigning champ recently signed a multi-year contract extension till 2028. Recent reports reveal that he is expected to make around £55 million as he hunts for his 3rd drivers’ championship!
In 2022, he had a salary of around £40 million, earning an additional £20 million in bonuses! While the exact amount promised per win is not known to fans, one can estimate that even apart from a title incentive of around £5 million, the Dutchman is expected to earn much more than in 2022, easily in the ballpark of £60 to £70 million, perhaps more!
In contrast, Lewis earned around £55 million in 2022, while Alonso and Perez earned £30 and £26 million respectively. These numbers are strictly to do with the drivers’ salaries and incentives and do not factor in additional flow of income in terms of sponsorship deals and any other sources of income available to drivers.
Do you agree with Zak Brown’s statements? Should Perez be replaced? And given the large disparity in wages at Formula 1, should a strict salary cap be implemented? Comment what you think below!
