“Total idiocy” and “illegal” : Max Verstappen’s manager isn’t open to the concept of salary cap

“Total idiocy” and “illegal” : Max Verstappen’s manager isn’t open to the concept of salary cap

Raymond Vermeulen(on the left) and Max Verstappen(on the right)

The concept of a salary cap for Formula One drivers, according to reigning F1 World Champion Max Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen, is “total idiocy.” For the second time, Formula One is deliberating a salary cap for F1 drivers. The motorsport instituted a spending cap two years ago, which was whittled down to $135 million this season, though there are a few exceptions.

One of these is the regular salary to drivers, which may soon be blocked as well. The concept does not sit well with Verstappen’s manager. “Total idiocy. Drivers increase the value of a team, and to then give whoever you buy that value from, the driver, a limit, it means the world is upside down,” said Vermeulen in an interview.

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He even went so far as to refer to it as, “illegal.” “Take a look at the facts. A grand prix came to the Netherlands thanks to Max. Zandvoort pays an annual amount to FOM to organise the race, a large part of which is divided among the teams. So they benefit from that,” added the manager.

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Max Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen describes the issue

Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen

Vermeulen also stated that Red Bull, which negotiated Verstappen to a contract renewal worth $53 million per season earlier this year, is opposed to wage caps. He also deems it as a bad idea for the motorsport in general.

“You need these investors and sponsors who invest in talent and want to be associated with that driver for a long time. A salary cap will affect the entire sport,” added Raymond. However, Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur believes that’s something Formula One should think about, not just for the drivers but also for the relevant individuals who are excluded from the new threshold.

“I think it’s the right approach to try to coordinate it with the budget and to have perhaps an allowance for this. You could overshoot the limit and you will have to take part of your budget cap, I don’t know, but we have to find something like this because it’s important for the sport. And I think at the end of the day that it makes also sense for the competition. I’m more than pleased to go into this direction,” concluded Verstappen’s manager.

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