Coming off the thrill of the Qatar Grand Prix, Max Verstappen has not only solidified his place alongside the likes of Sir Jackie Stewart, Nelson Piquet (who happens to be his father-in-law, fancy that!), and the inimitable Ayrton Senna, Sebastian Vettel and, of course, Alain Prost. Verstappen’s riveting sprint to his third F1 World Championship title has not just left the F1 fanbase talking but has also got legends of the sport, like Prost, tipping their hats in admiration.

Fans across the globe still vividly remember the end of the 2021 season, where Lewis Hamilton’s championship dreams were crushed by the indomitable Verstappen. Reflecting on Lewis Hamilton’s heartbreak in 2021, Prost, in his column for L’Equipe, has shed some light on what makes the Dutch dynamo truly special.

He said, “He’s a great whole who strives for perfection every day. When you hear the driver complaining about the bad behavior of his single-seater during free practice on Friday morning, it’s not the anger of the kid who used to make mistakes and sometimes ended up in the wall because of his impatience.”

Prost believes it’s Max’s evolution into a driving maestro. Max, in his eyes, has merged into one with his car and team, relentlessly pursuing perfection. Prost recalls the days when Verstappen was the impetuous youngster, often hitting the wall due to his rashness. But that version of Max? Prost declares, “This Max disappeared at the end of 2021 at the end of his magnificent battle against Lewis Hamilton.”

As Prost sees it, the growth of Verstappen post his iconic duel with Hamilton is what has truly marked him out. The legend concluded, “It’s about the way he and his Red Bull battled throughout the season against Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes.”

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Having just clinched his third straight driver’s world championship title, Verstappen is now rubbing elbows with F1’s Hall of Famers. Naturally, every team’s got their eyes on this racing prodigy, hoping to cash in on those sweet, sweet sponsorship deals he’s sure to attract. And it seems Red Bull isn’t taking any chances.

Max Verstappen’s wallet is about to get a LOT heavier

As per BusinessF1 Magazine, they’re gearing up to slide a whopping offer of over $100 million a year across the table to keep our Dutch wonder boy in their corner. To put that into perspective, just 18 months ago, a $70 million annual paycheck seemed mind-blowing. But now? That’s just pocket change for Max, who last year settled for a still impressive $2.6 million per race deal.

If you’re a numbers person, here’s a juicy tidbit. Based on the latest Concorde Agreement (2021), a $100 million yearly contract would mean Verstappen pockets a cool $4,100,000. That’s for every one of the 24 races in the season. Quick math: that’s a 57% pay hike. This propels the 26-year-old to the top spot of highest-paid athletes in F1’s glittering history.

Amidst this roaring success, there seems to be a little murmur of concern echoing through the Red Bull garages. That’s about the prospects of Verstappen retiring early. But hey, let’s leave the speculations for another day, and for now, let’s just say… Drinks are on Max at the next F1 after-party!

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