Max Verstappen is the most dominant star in F1 right now and is driving the strongest car, the RB19. His partnership with Red Bull has made him almost unbeatable and Red Bull is reaping the benefit from it too, as they look to win their second constructors’ title in a row. However, the team’s chief advisor Helmut Marko is reluctant to be sure about Verstappen fulfilling his current contract with them, which runs until the end of the 2028 season and sees him get paid $55,000,000 a year.
Verstappen signed a long-term contract with Red Bull back in 2022. This deal runs until 2028 and makes him the highest-paid driver in the current F1 grid. The 25-year-old earns more than the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Charles Leclerc, although that could change very soon, with Hamilton’s Mercedes contract renewal set to break all financial records.
At the moment, there seems to be nothing wrong between Verstappen and Red Bull. The team is in great shape and cannot stop winning races. However, Verstappen has been dropping major hints about not wanting to continue driving in F1. This is because of the sport’s new additions and ever-changing rules. Helmut Marko is now getting increasingly worried about this.
Helmut Marko only “hopes” that Max Verstappen fulfills his contract
F1 recently introduced a 24-race calendar for the 2024 season, which will make it the biggest campaign in the sport’s history. While this could be exciting for fans watching from the stands or at home, Verstappen isn’t happy with this. The Red Bull driver isn’t happy with how he will have to travel so much throughout the year. In addition to that, Verstappen has also reiterated his stance on the sprint races, something he feels F1 could do without.
All these factors compel Marko to only hope about Verstappen fulfilling his deal. Because, if F1 continues to change rules and add more races, Verstappen could choose to retire early.
🗣️ | Max Verstappen has finally put his retirement rumours to bed
He was told that fans were worried that he would leave F1 due to the new changes 🥲
But he has given a guarantee that he will definitely drive in F1 for the next 5 years till 2028 👊pic.twitter.com/Xw86JEvsdK
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) May 2, 2023
“Max doesn’t just say something like that,” Marko said as quoted by GP Blog. “I hope he serves his contract, which runs until 2028, until the end. Who knows and maybe one day he will come and tell us: ‘Thanks, that’s it’.”
On the other hand, there are some figures within the F1 community, like George Russell, who believe that Verstappen will surely stay at Red Bull.
Will Verstappen leave Red Bull and F1? George Russell has his say
In an interview ahead of the recently concluded British GP, Mercedes star George Russell shared his opinion on Verstappen’s retirement threats. According to the Brit, Verstappen will surely stay and is just playing a long game to get his salary increased.
11 wins in a row for the team, what an amazing achievement @redbullracing 🚀 This is an extraordinary job by everyone 👏 #KeepPushing
Thank you Silverstone 🇬🇧 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/JvY7dR54ij
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) July 9, 2023
Verstappen currently earns $55,000,000 a year, but could be feeling like he deserves more, considering the fact that he is virtually unbeatable at the moment. While addressing chances of Verstappen retiring, Russell also admitted that he doesn’t want the Red Bull ace to leave, because he wants to fight him for a title.
Russell is adamant that he wants to win a world championship by driving against the best drivers in the world. He has already competed against teammate Lewis Hamilton on equal machinery, but is relishing at the thought of getting a shot at Verstappen in the near future.
