Max Verstappen Expected to Surpass Lewis Hamilton as Formula 1's First 'Billion-Dollar' Driver
Could Max Verstappen's Achievements Make Him the First Formula 1 Driver to Earn a Billion Dollars?
Max Verstappen's Formula 1 Triumphs Have Elevated Him to the Ranks of Motorsport Legends – The Dutch Driver is Nearing His Third Consecutive Drivers' Championship and Recently Achieved the Record for Consecutive Grand Prix Wins at 10. Remarkably, Despite Being Only 26 Years Old and Having Nearly a Decade of Grand Prix Racing Experience, His Earnings as a Racer Could Surpass the Billion-Dollar Milestone.
Mark Gallagher: Max Verstappen's Formula 1 Career Earnings Are Now Unpredictable
Former Jordan Grand Prix and Cosworth executive Mark Gallagher, discussing Verstappen's achievements on the GP Racing podcast, suggests that he has the potential to become Formula 1's inaugural billion-dollar driver.
Verstappen is reportedly earning an approximate annual income of $50 million from his Red Bull Racing contract, excluding any potential bonuses related to race victories or championship titles. Additionally, this figure does not encompass any commercial endorsement deals he may secure independently, such as his soon-to-expire partnership with Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo.
The ultimate sum of Verstappen's earnings hinges on the duration of his career, as pointed out by Gallagher.
"When it comes to the possibility of Max becoming the first Formula 1 driver to accumulate a billion dollars in career earnings, the reasoning behind my statement is quite straightforward. You don't need to spend much time crunching the numbers to realize that, given he's been a part of Formula 1 since the age of 17, even if we assume a relatively modest trajectory for his salary, he has already amassed a substantial nine-figure income—hundreds of millions of dollars—over the course of his career thus far," he explained.
"Max potentially has a very long journey ahead of him. An intriguing aspect is Max's statement that he may not continue for an extended period because, truth be told, he doesn't need to in order to amass significant wealth. He has already accumulated substantial earnings, and his Red Bull contract extends until 2028, ensuring further substantial income.
"However, if he decides to emulate someone like Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso, committing to the sport until he reaches 38 or 40, then all predictions become uncertain. His career earnings would continue to soar.
"Regarding the sponsorship deals he currently holds, while they may not be on the same level as personal endorsements in the style of Nike in the NBA, they are still quite substantial. When you begin to tally them up—1.5 million here, 2 million there—on top of his salary, you can understand why he appears so relaxed about his life. He's essentially in a league of his own."
Nhận xét
Đăng nhận xét