Max Verstappen says McLaren ended interest after learning how much he’d cost
Max Verstappen said McLaren ended their interest in him “immediately” when they learned the financial cost of poaching him from Red Bull.
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown admitted at the Australian Grand Prix this week that he had made a call to Verstappen’s management as they “explored the market” and considered their driver options.
But the Dutchman opted to remain with Red Bull and this season is hunting a fifth consecutive Formula 1 drivers’ title. Lando Norris is aiming to stop him and the McLaren driver is the bookies’ favourite for the championship.
In Melbourne, Verstappen was asked about why he turned down the chance to drive alongside Norris, in the wake of Brown’s admission about his enquiry. In response, the 27-year-old made it clear that the conversation his manager Raymond Vermeulen had with the McLaren chief was a brief one.
He replied: “[Brown] didn’t, he didn’t call me [directly]. But I think that didn’t last long. When he knew how much he would have to pay, it was over immediately.”
Verstappen has been the highest earning driver in F1 for the past few years, with his £40million salary being supplemented by performances bonuses which he has been triggering regularly thanks to his dominance on track.
His deal runs to the end of the 2028 season and the combination of the salary and the length of time remaining would have put Red Bull in a very strong negotiating position for any team wanting to buy out that contract. Whatever the fee would be, McLaren were clearly unwilling to even consider paying it.
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Instead, they handed a new contract to Oscar Piastri which was confirmed this week in the build up to his home race. Red Bull have a long-held interest in the Melbourne native and so McLaren moved to prevent Christian Horner from trying to tempt him to change sides and become Verstappen’s team-mate.
Mirror Sport understands that deal will run until 2029 and is worth around £18-20million per year to Piastri and puts him on part with team-mate Norris in terms of salary. The Brit also has a long-term deal and McLaren are convinced they have the two best young drivers in the sport nailed down for years to come.
They are pretty happy with their shorter-term situation as well, given their status as pre-season favourites to successfully defend their constructors’ championship title. Their quest to do that got off to the ideal start on Saturday in Melbourne, as Norris took pole position for the opening race of the year while Piastri locked out the front row with him.
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