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The Hague (AFP) – Dutch Formula One world champion Max Verstappen is preparing to extend his contract with current team Red Bull for “four or five years”, the Dutch daily De Telegraaf reported on Wednesday.
According to the newspaper, the 24-year-old Verstappen’s contract expires at the end of 2023, “he will be with his current team for a long time”, and the Formula One driver is being paid “estimated at 50 million euros a year”.
Seven-time world champion Louise Hamilton tops the list of the highest paid in the Queen class, knowing that her contract with Mercedes will last until the end of 2023.
Forbes magazine ranked Hamilton as the eighth best athlete in the world because he earns .8 54.8 million a year for his sporting activities alone, while his annual salary is less than 50 50 million.
After questioning by the Dutch newspaper ANP, the Red Bull team declined to confirm or deny the allegations.
“We will not comment on this information, but we can say with great confidence that the talks are well advanced. We hope to release a statement by this weekend,” said a spokesman for the Austrian Bourne.
Belgio-Dutch Verstappen, the son of former Formula One driver Jose, began his Formula One career with Toro Rosso in 2015 at the age of 17. Belgium-born Mad Max was promoted to Red Bull Racing in Dutch racing.
The reigning champion competed in 141 Grand Prix and won 20 races, including 10 races last year, winning the driving title for the first time in his career against the 37-year-old senior Hamilton. The last race at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi sparked great controversy.
After taking over the championship in the United Arab Emirates last December, Verstappen said, “My team knows I like it and I hope we can be together for 10 or 15 years.
In the same context, Red Bull Racing’s sports consultant and driving policy Austrian Helmut Marco said, “We will discuss the extension and maybe end it.”
The 2022 tournament will start on March 20 from the Zakir International Circuit in Bahrain, before which a three-day test will be held on the same circuit from 10 to 12 this year.
© 2022 AFP
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