Let’s be real for a second. When we talk about the Max Verstappen salary 2024 numbers, we aren't just looking at a paycheck. We are looking at the price of absolute, crushing dominance. You’ve seen the 2024 season—the way Max handles that RB20 even when it's being "tricky" (his words, usually with some choice adjectives on the radio). It makes sense that he's taking home enough to buy a small island. Or several.
Honestly, the figures being tossed around the paddock are kind of mind-blowing. Most experts, including the folks over at Forbes and RacingNews365, put his 2024 base salary at a cool $55 million to $60 million. But that is just the floor. That’s the "show up and drive" money. When you add in the performance bonuses for winning races—and he wins a lot—the total cash flow for 2024 likely cleared $75 million.
It’s a massive jump from where he was just a few years ago. But then again, he’s basically the sun that the Red Bull solar system orbits around. Without him, that team looks very different.
The breakdown of that 2024 contract
You might remember back in 2022 when Max signed that massive extension. It keeps him at Red Bull until 2028. At the time, people thought it was a huge gamble. Now? It looks like a bargain for Christian Horner.
The Max Verstappen salary 2024 structure is basically built on two pillars. First, there’s the base retainer. This is the guaranteed money, which sits around $55 million. For context, that’s more than the entire annual budget of some smaller sports teams. Then you have the "win" bonuses.
Red Bull’s contract structure is famously incentive-heavy. They love to reward results. For every Grand Prix win, Max reportedly pockets a significant extra chunk. Given that he started 2024 with a flurry of victories, that bonus pot grew very, very quickly.
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- Guaranteed Base: ~$55,000,000
- Estimated Bonuses: ~$15,000,000 to $20,000,000
- Total On-Track Earnings: ~$75,000,000
It’s a lot of zeros. But if you're the guy bringing home the Drivers' Championship trophies year after year, you've got all the leverage in the world.
Max vs. Lewis: The battle for the top spot
The question everyone asks is: Is Max actually the highest-paid driver? For 2024, the answer is a resounding yes.
For a long time, Lewis Hamilton held the crown. Mercedes was paying him top-tier money to match his seven world titles. But as Max's dominance solidified, the financial scales tipped. In 2024, Lewis’s base salary at Mercedes was estimated at around $45 million. That’s a huge gap compared to Max’s $55m+ floor.
Things are gonna get interesting in 2025 and 2026, though. With Lewis moving to Ferrari, his new deal is rumored to be worth north of $60 million a year. But for the 2024 season, Max is the undisputed king of the F1 rich list.
Why the off-track money is different
Here is something weird. Despite being the best driver on the planet, Max doesn't actually make as much "off-track" as guys like Lewis or even some NBA stars.
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Lewis Hamilton is a fashion icon. He's at the Met Gala. He's got massive deals with Tommy Hilfiger and Rimowa. Max? Max likes sim racing in his living room. He’s a "racing-first" kind of guy.
His endorsement portfolio is still solid, mind you. He has partnerships with EA Sports, Viaplay, and Heineken 0.0. These deals bring in an estimated $5 million to $6 million extra a year. It’s "small" compared to his salary, but it shows his brand is built on being a pure athlete rather than a lifestyle celebrity. He’s selling the idea of being the fastest man alive, not necessarily the most fashionable.
Is he worth the $75 million?
Some people argue that no one "needs" that much money to drive a car. Fair point. But in the world of F1, the driver is the most important component that isn't made of carbon fiber.
Red Bull's value as a brand is tied directly to Max's face on the podium. Sponsors like Oracle and Bybit aren't writing nine-figure checks to see the car finish in P12. They want the win. By paying the Max Verstappen salary 2024 rate, Red Bull is essentially buying an insurance policy for their global marketing machine.
Also, consider the "Max Factor" in car development. He can drive around problems that would sink other drivers. That's worth more than any wind tunnel hour.
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What happens after 2024?
The contract runs to 2028, but the F1 world is fickle. There was a lot of noise earlier in the year about Max potentially looking elsewhere—maybe Mercedes? Maybe Aston Martin?
If he were to move, his salary wouldn't go down. If anything, a bidding war for Max Verstappen would probably see the first $100 million-a-year contract in F1 history. For now, he seems happy (mostly) at Red Bull, and his bank account is certainly happy.
If you're looking to track how this compares to the rest of the grid, keep an eye on the 2025 "silly season." With new regulations coming in 2026, the top teams are going to be desperate to lock down elite talent, and that always means the price of the "best" goes up.
Actionable takeaways for F1 fans
- Watch the win count: Every time Max wins a race, he’s likely triggering a six-figure bonus. It’s why he’s always so annoyed when a win slips away—it’s literally money out of his pocket.
- Look at the sponsors: Notice the EA Sports logo on his helmet? That’s part of the "off-track" $6 million. Those partnerships are becoming more selective and high-value.
- Keep an eye on 2026: The new engine rules will be the biggest threat to Max's earnings. If Red Bull (with Ford) doesn't nail the engine, Max’s leverage might move to another team that will pay even more.
The reality is that Max Verstappen has redefined what it means to be a "high-earning athlete" in motorsports. He’s not just a driver; he’s the most expensive, and most effective, employee in the history of the Milton Keynes squad.