Verstappen’s new Red Bull deal comes with a staggering price tag – Max Verstappen’s decision to remain with Red Bull Racing until 2030 has now been followed by claims about the extraordinary financial terms behind the agreement.
According to F1 business journalist Marc Limacher, Verstappen is set to receive an annual salary of €92 million from 2027, with performance-related bonuses potentially taking his earnings to €115 million per season. Limacher claims the overall four-year agreement is worth €460 million.
The figures have not been officially confirmed by Red Bull or Verstappen, meaning they should be treated as reported contract details rather than established fact. However, the claim adds another remarkable dimension to one of the biggest driver-market stories of the year.
Red Bull confirmed ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix that Verstappen had signed a contract extension keeping him with the team through the end of the 2030 season. The announcement ended months of speculation over whether the four-time world champion could eventually leave the team.
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€92 million salary could rise to €115 million
Limacher’s claim is particularly striking because it separates Verstappen’s reported guaranteed salary from his potential bonus earnings.
According to the report, the Dutchman would receive €92 million per year from 2027 onwards, while bonuses could increase the annual figure to €115 million.
Across the four seasons from 2027 through 2030, that would produce a headline value of €460 million if the maximum annual figure were reached each year.
The scale of the reported package underlines just how valuable Verstappen remains to Red Bull. He has delivered four consecutive Drivers’ Championships between 2021 and 2024 and has become the central figure in the team’s modern Formula 1 identity.
For now, however, the precise structure of the contract remains private.
Red Bull had to convince Verstappen despite its struggles
The financial claims arrive at a particularly interesting moment for Red Bull.
The team has struggled to match Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren under the radically changed 2026 regulations. Verstappen has therefore been at the centre of persistent speculation about whether he could eventually seek a more competitive car elsewhere.
Mercedes was repeatedly mentioned as a potential destination during the period of uncertainty, turning Verstappen’s future into one of the biggest talking points in the paddock.
Instead, the Dutchman has chosen to stay with the team that brought him his four world titles.
“I’ve always said it: the team is like a second family to me, and I feel very comfortable here. I came to this team hoping to win races. What we have achieved together has been simply wonderful – we have experienced many incredible moments and won four world championships,” Red Bull quoted Verstappen as saying.
Verstappen backs Mekies and Red Bull’s long-term project
The decision also represents an endorsement of Red Bull’s new leadership structure under team principal Laurent Mekies.
Verstappen specifically highlighted his relationship with Mekies and said he could see that the Frenchman had “a clear vision for the team.”
“To continue this journey with the same team where I have spent my entire career is something very special and something I have always wanted,” Verstappen added.
Mekies, meanwhile, made clear that securing Verstappen is only one part of Red Bull’s challenge.
“We’re not there yet,” he stated. “There are still more races to win, more milestones to reach, and more history to write.”
The reported €460 million figure therefore carries significance beyond the headline number. Red Bull is effectively placing enormous financial and sporting faith in Verstappen remaining the cornerstone of its next championship challenge.
The biggest F1 guessing game finally has an answer
Before the announcement, Verstappen’s future had become something of a guessing game for Formula 1 fans. Would he remain loyal to Red Bull despite its struggles, or eventually take the opportunity to join a rival such as Mercedes?
The uncertainty became so widespread that fans were not merely debating the possible destinations but, in some cases, treating the outcome as something to bet on.
That guessing game is now over. Verstappen has chosen Red Bull — and if Limacher’s figures prove accurate, the team has committed an extraordinary amount of money to ensure its star driver remains at the heart of its project.
Red Bull’s next challenge is simple: make the €460 million commitment look like an investment rather than a price paid for past success.
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Alex Stanton is a Formula 1 journalist at TJ13 with a focus on the financial and commercial dynamics that underpin the sport. Alex contributes reporting and analysis on team ownership structures, sponsorship trends, and the evolving business model of Formula 1.
At TJ13, Alex covers topics including manufacturer investment, cost cap implications, and the strategic direction of teams navigating an increasingly complex financial environment. Alex’s work often examines how commercial decisions translate into on-track performance and long-term competitiveness.
With a strong interest in the intersection of sport and business, Alex provides context around Formula 1’s global growth, including media rights, expansion markets, and manufacturer influence.
Alex’s reporting aims to explain the financial realities behind headline stories, helping readers understand how money, governance, and strategy shape the competitive order in Formula 1.
