Max Verstappen will receive a smaller bonus from Red Bull this year than he did in 2023 – and it’s nothing to do with Sergio Perez. Verstappen sealed his fourth straight title at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday night.
Lando Norris had to outscore the Dutchman by at least three points to extend the title fight to this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix. In the end, he finished behind him.
Verstappen only had the pace to finish fifth in Nevada, with Mercedes and Ferrari both too fast during the race. But McLaren struggled even more and Norris couldn’t do better than sixth.
That saw the Red Bull superstar increase his lead to 63 points with only 60 on offer before the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi. Wrapping up the title with multiple races to spare is an exceptional feat.
Verstappen’s advantage peaked at 84 points after the British Grand Prix in July. But the consensus is that he hasn’t had the fastest car since McLaren’s major upgrade in Miami.
It’s a testament to Verstappen’s near-flawless campaign that he’s only lost 21 points in that stretch. Some regard it as his finest championship to date.
Max Verstappen’s lower 2024 tally will see his Red Bull bonus fall
According to Fox Sports Mexico, Verstappen will receive a smaller bonus at the end of the year compared to 2023. That’s despite the fact he retained his title with a degree of comfort.
Crucially, F1 drivers’ contracts feature win bonuses. Last season, he racked up 19 from 22 races – the most in F1 history outright and in percentage terms.
| RANK | DRIVER | TEAM | WINS |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 8 |
| =2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 3 |
| =2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 3 |
| =4 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 2 |
| =4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 2 |
| =4 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 2 |
| =4 | George Russell | Mercedes | 2 |
This term, he’s only managed eight from the first 22 events, though seven of those came in the first 10 races. While he has at least five more than any other driver, he’s suffered from a far more competitive landscape.
Fox’s report estimates that Verstappen’s bonus will fall by €16.5m (£13.7m). That’s based on 2023 figures, and the incentives may have been adjusted over the winter.
All Red Bull employees will see bonuses hit if, as looks increasingly likely, they finish third in the constructors’. This would be largely down to Perez, who’s been off the pace since the early rounds.
Max Verstappen’s relationship with key Red Bull ally suffered after one race
Verstappen is ‘hungry’ for a fifth world championship in the immediate aftermath of sealing his fourth. Lewis Hamilton said the exact thing after he reached that milestone in 2017, a reflection of their elite mentality.
The 27-year-old has showcased his resilience this year after seeing his team lose their way in F1’s development race. There have only been a couple of moments where he has lost control of his emotions.
Some would point to the Mexico City GP, when Verstappen ran Norris off the road twice in five corners and earned two penalties. Otherwise would see this as a calculated strategy to hurt his rival’s chances of winning.
In Hungary, Verstappen publicly clashed with Gianpiero Lambiase over the radio. He didn’t speak to his engineer for four days afterwards, but Lambiase accompanied him for the Las Vegas ceremony, highlighting the strength of their bond.
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