Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Payday Might Be the Biggest Contract in Motorsport History

Following the blockbuster news that Max Verstappen has officially ended all the paddock rumors by extending his contract with Red Bull Racing through the 2030 season, the entire Formula 1 world has been asking the exact same question: just how much did it cost to keep him?

Thanks to some fresh industry leaks, we finally have an answer—and the numbers are absolutely astronomical.

According to F1 business journalist Marc Limacher, the Dutch driver’s new deal will completely shatter existing Formula 1 pay scales.

Limacher reports that starting in 2027, Verstappen is set to earn a staggering baseline annual salary of €92 million at Red Bull Racing. However, the paycheck doesn’t stop there. Once lucrative performance bonuses are factored in, Verstappen’s yearly on-track earnings are structured to reach a maximum of €115 million per season.

Because this extension secures his seat for four additional seasons (2027 through 2030), the total agreement is reportedly worth a jaw-dropping €460 million.

To put this kind of money into perspective, it helps to understand F1’s financial rules. Driver salaries are famously exempt from the FIA’s stringent operational cost cap. This crucial loophole allows heavy-hitting legacy teams like Red Bull to essentially write a blank check for generational talents, preventing them from jumping ship to rival constructors with deep pockets.

Verstappen was certainly not struggling for cash before this extension. According to recent Forbes data, the four-time world champion was already ranked 14th on the list of the highest-paid athletes globally, taking home an estimated $86 million in total earnings—with $78 million of that stemming directly from on-field performance.

SPA, BELGIUM – JULY 18: Second placed qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the Drivers Press Conference during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 18, 2026 in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202607180278 // Usage for editorial use only //

However, this newly negotiated €115 million (roughly $128 million USD) annual ceiling catapults him entirely out of the standard motorsport financial brackets. While he might still trail the absurd, sovereign-wealth-backed contracts seen in Saudi Arabian soccer, this new package solidifies Verstappen as one of the single highest-paid athletes in the history of global sports.

Clearly, Red Bull’s top brass decided that you simply cannot put a price tag on a guaranteed championship contender.