Max Verstappen: Formula 1 world champion agrees new long-term deal with Red Bull

Max Verstappen: Formula 1 world champion agrees new long-term deal with Red Bull

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

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

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From the amazing battles to that finale and the controversial aftermath, get ready for the Sky Original ‘Duel: Hamilton vs Verstappen’ airing this Saturday

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 Event and Sky Sports F1 from 7pm on Sunday, March 6.

Duel: Hamilton vs Verstappen – which is also available On Demand from March 6 and then on Sky Showcase and Sky Documentaries from Monday, March 7 – will include exclusive interviews with Verstappen, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner and Mercedes chief Toto Wolff.

We will also hear from a host of former world champions, plus pundits and journalists as they reflect on one of the greatest Formula 1 seasons of all time and a quite epic title battle.

Sky F1's Ted Kravitz believes Ferrari have been the big winners from pre-season testing in Barcelona and outlines what he expects to happen during testing in Bahrain.

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Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz believes Ferrari have been the big winners from pre-season testing in Barcelona and outlines what he expects to happen during testing in Bahrain.

Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz believes Ferrari have been the big winners from pre-season testing in Barcelona and outlines what he expects to happen during testing in Bahrain.

What we learned from the first F1 test

Mercedes and Red Bull do not look to have dropped the ball in F1’s new regulations, but there are promising signs for new battles with Ferrari and McLaren in the hunt.

Sky Sports F1 writer Matt Morlidge reflects on the first pre-season F1 test in Barcelona

Verstappen’s rise to F1 world champion

Matt Morlidge and James Galloway chart Verstappen’s evolution, from teenage protege to Formula 1’s 34th world champion.

Watch Duel: Hamilton vs Verstappen on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports F1 from 7pm on Sunday.

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