Verstappen Faces $19 Million Bonus Cut Despite Fourth Consecutive F1 Title
“Verstappen secured a fourth consecutive World Championship at last weekend’s United States Grand Prix to cement his place alongside the greatest drivers in F1 history.”
The 27-year-old Dutchman is only the second driver, after Sebastian Vettel, to achieve the feat. He built the triumph on the back of another dominant season alongside Red Bull, but a dip in wins compared to his record-breaking 2023 season, will impact his bank balance.
Boosting Ted Bull’s success, Verstappen himself set a new single-season win record in 2023, surpassing his own record from 2022. The duo dominated the first half of this year before facing a tougher fight, with McLaren’s Lando Norris emerging as Verstappen’s closest challenger.
Title Triumph Masks Financial Reality
Despite securing a fourth consecutive World Championship and scripting himself into F1 history, Max Verstappen is facing a significant cut to his Colossal bonus for the 2024 season. A leading Mexican outlet has reported that “Verstappen’s reduced number of victories will hit him in the pocket”.
Having secured just eight victories in the 2024 season, 11 fewer than his record-breaking 2023 campaign,
it is estimated that Verstappen’s reward will be $19 million less than the previous year.
Red Bull’s Shifting Fortunes Impact Verstappen’s Pay Packet
“Verstappen’s longest barren stretch since the 2020 season – after a period through the summer where he went 10 races without a victory, competing between June’s Spanish GP and the Brazilian race in early November.”
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With two races remaining this season- Qatar and the season finale in Abu Dhabi, plus any potential bonus for winning the World Championship, Verstappen, while likely cracking bigger financial rewards for 2024.
Verstappen’s reported $70 million annual salary establishes him as the highest-paid driver in F1.
Top Spot Paved With Financially Rewarding Payout Minor.
It’s significant to note that Verstappen’s salary is distinctly different from earlier years. His 2020 plight isn’t significant when compared to the कोशिश lisää boon his partnership with Red Bull sees neu
drivers often receive performance-based bonuses for individual race wins. Though those wins have been slightly less frequent this year, allowing the Dutchman a hefty reward.
Here, we can see how Verstappen’s performance directly affects Red Bull’s leadership impacting the frontrunner team further.
To further understand the financial landscape of Formula 1 teams
It’s reportedly lined intricately with his on-track performance
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s Team Principal, further cemented his position as the highest-paid in F1.
He received a hefty 11% pay rise in 2023, boosting his salary to £8.92 million – up from £8.04 million in 2022. Dr Helmut Marko’s role in Red Bull’s success has
also been financially acknowledged with a significant rise in salary to £7 million for 2024 – up from £3.5 million last year.
Red Bull’s record-breaking 2023 led to the company’s turnover rising by 16%, reaching £446 million, with shareholders – excluding
Horner – benefiting from a £50 million dividend payout.
What are performance-based bonuses in F1 contracts and how do they impact driver earnings?
## Interview with F1 Expert on Verstappen’s Bonus Cut
**Interviewer:** Joining us today is [Guest name], an F1 expert and analyst. Welcome to the show!
**Guest:** Thanks for having me!
**Interviewer:** Let’s discuss the news everyone is talking about: Max Verstappen securing a fourth consecutive F1 world championship, a truly remarkable achievement!
**Guest:** Absolutely, Max has cemented his place as one of the greats. It’s an incredible feat to match Sebastian Vettel’s record.
**Interviewer:** However, there’s a twist to the story. Despite this historic win, Verstappen is facing a potential $19 million cut to his bonus this year. Can you explain why?
**Guest:** While Verstappen dominated the season, he won “only” eight races this year – a significant drop from his record-breaking 15 in 2023. It seems his bonus is partly tied to the number of race wins, and this dip in victories will impact his earnings.
**Interviewer:** This news might surprise some, considering Verstappen’s dominance. Is this something common in F1 contracts?
**Guest:** Yes, it’s becoming increasingly common for driver contracts to include performance-based bonuses. These can range from race wins to podium finishes, championships, and even fastest laps. It’s a way for teams to incentivize drivers and tie their rewards to success [ [1](https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/red-bull-advisor-explains-why-disappointed-employees-will-not-receive-bonuses-following-max-verstappen-s-fourth-straight-world-drivers-championship-triumph/ar-AA1uF1AI) ].
**Interviewer:** So, even though Verstappen achieved something truly extraordinary by winning his fourth title, his financial reward might not reflect the magnitude of this achievement?
**Guest:** That’s right. It highlights the complexities of F1 contracts and the intricate relationship between performance, rewards, and team objectives.
**Interviewer:** Thank you so much for shedding light on this, [Guest name]. It’s fascinating to see the business side of this incredible sport.