Max Verstappen responds to Lewis Hamilton salary comparison

Lewis Hamilton looks disappointed as Max Verstappen laughs — Photo: © LAT Images

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Verstappen responds to Hamilton salary comparison

The Dutchman has been discussing his rate of pay compared to seven-time world champion Hamilton

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Thursday 25 January 2024 23:57

Max Verstappen has been asked whether he makes more money than Formula 1 rival Lewis Hamilton, in a recent interview.

The British driver signed a new contract last season to keep him at Mercedes for two extra years, but although the exact figures are unknown, it's believed that his younger rival - the reigning world champion - has surpassed him in salary.

Verstappen's bonuses for his supreme season in 2023, where he broke multiple records while dominating the rest of the field, puts his earnings firmly above Hamilton's, who would not have received much more than his base salary having not won a race since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The dominant Dutchman claimed 19 race wins in 2023, as well as winning both the drivers' and constructors' championships with his Red Bull team.

Max Verstappen is a three-time Formula 1 world champion

Max Verstappen claimed 19 race wins in 2023, including 10 in a row

Lewis Hamilton is known to have a rather lavish lifestyle off the track

Verstappen's net worth

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While this figure is expected to rise this season, Forbes estimates the Dutchman's earnings in 2023 at a whopping $70 million per year, including a base salary of $45 million and performance-related bonuses of $25 million.

But Verstappen's riches aren't just confined to F1. Although he lost his long-time sponsor, Jumbo Supermarkets, which backed him even before arriving in the sport, he still boasts a lucrative portfolio of endorsements with brands like Electronic Arts (EA Sports), Heineken, and Viaplay, reportedly adding $4 million to his coffers annually.

Speaking in an interview with The Times, Verstappen was asked about his salary in comparison to Hamilton's.

Red Bull Mercedes Hamilton Saudi Arabian Grand Prix