What to expect from Verstappen’s future in F1? Find out how much the four-time world champion earns

The title won by Max Verstappen this weekend comes as a sign of relief for the four-time world champion. A Formula 1 will undergo important changes in 2026, with changes in engine regulations, and this could be crucial to understanding the next steps in the Dutchman’s career in the top category of world motorsport.

Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028. The Dutchman has stated several times that he intends to reevaluate his career sequence periodically. The record number of Grands Prix in the season – there will be 24 again next year – imposes a breakneck pace of life on drivers and team members. Teams tend to divide part of their personnel so that not everyone needs to accumulate consecutive GPs. But this does not apply to pilots and senior members.

A Verstappen’s average annual earningsbetween salaries in Formula 1 and advertising quotas, comes close to US$81 million (R$470 million), according to Forbes magazine. These numbers make it the highest paid driver in the category and bring him closer to the top-10 best-paid active athletes in the world. Football, golf, basketball and American football icons still appear ahead.

“At the moment, I have a contract. I will be 31 years old at the end of the agreement. Of course, I will still be very young, but I started when I was 17 years old. That’s a long time in Formula 1. For me, it also depends on how the new cars will drive from 2026 onwards. Will they be enjoyable to drive? The amount of races, how far you are from home, is demanding,” Verstappen told Road and Track.

Also read:

The changes in the engines of Formula 1 cars leave doubts about Verstappen. Red Bull will change its partnership with Honda for the Ford in the development of power units from 2026. The Japanese will be in the cars of Aston Martin and other changes will also happen.

A Renault will stop supplying engines even to its own team, Alpine. A Audi will enter F1 after acquiring a majority stake in the team Sauber. Mercedes e Ferrari continue, and the Cadillac – yes General Motors – has already made official his interest in entering the competition from 2028, together with the team Andretti – which is experiencing a conflicting situation with the category, but an anticipation may occur after movements in the racing paddock Las Vegas GP this weekend.

Every change is capable of creating new hegemonies in Formula 1. It was like this in 2014 with the adoption of hybrid engines that made Mercedes unbeatable. In 2021, aerodynamic transformations elevated Red Bull back to that position, a fact that accredited Verstappen to the position of four-time world champion.

With the departure of Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes to Ferrari, the German team began a search for a suitable replacement. Verstappen was preferred by Toto Wolffhead of the team, but the desire did not materialize, and Mercedes opted for a duo trained in its academy, with George Russell e Andrea Kimi Antonelli. But, “only God knows what will happen in the future”, as the president said.

Red Bull experienced problems at the beginning of the year after a harassment complaint against the boss emerged, Christian Hornerwho has already been cleared of the case internally. He also entered into litigation with consultant Helmut Marko and received criticism from Jos Verstappen, Max’s father. The departure of aerodynamics wizard Adrian Newey to Aston Martin became another headache for the Austrians.

Faced with discussions within Red Bull’s bureaucracy and sudden fluctuations in the car throughout 2024, Verstappen will enter 2025 without so much certainty of a title.

Rivals, still under the current regulations, are getting closer and the battle for the highest place on the podium will be more intense with McLarenFerrari and Mercedes. Staying at Red Bull, depending on the condition of the car and internal turmoil, could be yet another reason for Verstappen to decide to end his career in the short term or seek new opportunities as soon as possible.

Check out the list of F1 champions after Verstappen’s fourth at the Las Vegas GP

Max Verstappen became four-time Formula 1 world champion this Sunday (24) during the Las Vegas Grand Prix, in the United States. The Dutchman came in fifth place, ahead of his main opponent, Lando Norrisfrom McLaren, and was able to party in the “city of sin”.

The Red Bull driver takes his fourth consecutive title in the highest category of world motorsport, equals big names with impressive feats and surpasses icons like his father-in-law Nelson Piquet and also Brazilian Ayrton Senna.

The Dutchman is only behind three motorsport legends. Lewis Hamilton, who will drive for Ferrari in 2025, has seven titles, as well as Michael Schumacher. Juan Manuel Fangio There are five.

See below the updated list with all the champions in F1 history:

Michael Schumacher – 7 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 e 2004)

Lewis Hamilton – 7 (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 e 2020)

Juan Manuel Fangio – 5 (1951, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957)

Alain Prost – 4 (1985, 1986, 1989 e 1993)

Sebastian Vettel – 4 (2010, 2011, 2012 e 2013)

Max Verstappen – 4 (2021, 2022, 2023 e 2024)

Jack Brabham – 3 (1959, 1960 e 1966)

Jackie Stewart – 3 (1969, 1971 e 1973)

Niki Lauda – 3 (1975, 1977 and 1984)

Nelson Piquet – 3 (1981, 1983 and 1987)

Ayrton Senna – 3 (1988, 1990 and 1991)

Alberto Ascari – 2 (1952 and 1953)

Jim Clark – 2 (1963 and 1965)

Graham Hill – 2 (1962 e 1968)

Emerson Fittipaldi – 2 (1972 and 1974)

Mika Häkkinen – 2 (1998 and 1999)

Fernando Alonso – 2 (2005 and 2006)

Nino Farina – 1 (1950)

Mike Hawthorn – 1 (1958)

Phil Hill – 1 (1961)

John Surtees – 1 (1964)

Denny Hulme – 1 (1967)

Jochen Rindt – 1 (1970)

James Hunt – 1 (1976)

Mario Andretti – 1 (1978)

Jody Scheckter – 1 (1979)

Alan Jones – 1 (1980)

Keke Rosberg – 1 (1982)

Nigel Mansell – 1 (1992)

Damon Hill – 1 (1996)

Jacques Villeneuve – 1 (1997)

Kimi Raikkonen – 1 (2007)

Jenson Button – 1 (2009)

Nico Rosberg – 1 (2016)

High Performance Entrepreneur

ONLINE COURSE

Rian Tavares reveals the secret to business management based on the method of high-performance athletes.