Racing Icon Makes $50 Million Claim on Max Verstappen’s Failure to Leave Red Bull

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya exposed the potential reason behind Max Verstappen deciding not to join Mercedes.

Racing Icon Makes $50 Million Claim on Max Verstappen’s Failure to Leave Red Bull

Toto Wolff (via Getty), Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)

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Max Verstappen was the biggest name in the F1 driver market a couple of weeks ago. The reigning world champion did have a valid contract with Red Bull till the end of 2028. However, this did not stop the ever-increasing rumors over the Dutchman potentially joining Mercedes. Now, former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has hinted at the reason behind the failed talks between the two sides.

The Red Bull star seemed adamant to leave Milton Keynes as early as the end of this season. Mercedes emerged as the frontrunner to poach the 27-year-old. Max Verstappen even met Mercedes boss Toto Wolff in Sardinia just a couple of days after Red Bull sacked Christian Horner. Though, Verstappen ultimately decided to continue with the Austrian team and put an end to such speculation for good.

Juan Pablo Montoya reckoned that perhaps Max Verstappen no longer had the choice of joining the Silver Arrows. The Columbian pointed out that the reigning world champion is the highest paid driver in F1. Last year, when Verstappen was still at his peak, a team would’ve gladly offered him over $100 million just to get him out of Red Bull.

I don’t think he had a choice, If I was negotiating with Max last year when he was winning the world championship, let’s say, it would have cost $100m.

Juan Pablo Montoya told Coinpoker

However, things have changed drastically since. Montoya pointed out that now Max Verstappen is stuck with an underperforming car and wants to find greener pastures. This drops the value instantly. So much so, Juan Pablo Montoya insisted that now Verstappen might be only getting a $50 million offer. This could be the reason why the Dutchman decided to stay at Milton Keynes.

This year he’s in a struggling car. The number could be $50m. Maybe that was the reason he stayed. 

Juan Pablo Montoya added

Toto Wolff had ‘upper hand’ on Max Verstappen talks

Last season, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff seemed desperate to hire Max Verstappen. However, this did not happen as the Dutch driver was content at Milton Keynes. The landscape changed completely this year, with Wolff gaining a lot more negotiating power.

Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli (via Red Bull)
Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli (image via Red Bull)

Juan Pablo Montoya insisted that Verstappen was aware that Mercedes would have the upper hand on negotiations in a situation where he was struggling with Red Bull. In recent years, the 27-year-old could’ve bagged a lucrative contract to join a rival team, but now things were not the same. Thus, Wolff had the leverage to better negotiate a cheaper contract with the four-time world champion. Ultimately, things just did not move forward.

Maybe Max thought he was going to get [$50m] and whoever was speaking to him would have the upper hand, knowing that Max would want them more than they want Max. Last year, the number had to be like over the moon to get Max. I think this year, if you’re negotiating for Max, you can negotiate. Tell him, if you want to be here, this is the number. Toto could offer Max half what he would have needed to last year.

Juan Pablo Montoya explained

Certainly, Max Verstappen remains the star of Formula 1. The four-time world champion might be virtually out of title contention this season but he is not giving up. The Dutch driver has shown faith in Red Bull for the 2026 rule changes. As such, it could be interesting to see how things pan out next year.

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