Max Verstappen’s new deal, which is expected to be announced by the end of the week, will take him close to his 30th birthday and net him around £40m a year, putting him on par with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton; world champion begins title defence in Bahrain on March 20
Last Updated: 03/03/22 6:17am
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has agreed a new multi-year contract with Red Bull
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has agreed a new multi-year contract with Red Bull with a signing announcement expected before the end of the week, Sky Sports News understands.
The new agreement will take the 24-year-old close to his 30th birthday and earn him just over £40m a year, putting him on par with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen claimed his first world championship title in 2021 after edging out seven-time champion Hamilton in a controversial finish at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.
The Dutchman, whose current deal with Red Bull expires in 2023, will begin his title defence on March 20 when the 2022 season gets under way in Bahrain.
Verstappen’s new contract will prevent Mercedes from targeting him as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton should the Briton retire at the end of his current deal in 2023.
Don’t miss Duel on Sky Sports!
![From the amazing battles to that finale and the controversial aftermath, get ready for the Sky Original 'Duel: Hamilton vs Verstappen' airing this Saturday](https://e1.365dm.com/22/03/768x432/skysports-hamilton-verstappen_5693145.jpg)
From the amazing battles to that finale and the controversial aftermath, get ready for the Sky Original ‘Duel: Hamilton vs Verstappen’ airing this Saturday
The story of Verstappen and Hamilton’s fascinating title tussle last season will be charted in an original two-part Sky Sports documentary airing on Sky Sports Main