Max Verstappen has to pay one million euros or he will not be allowed to take part in the races

Max Verstappen can’t complain when it comes to money. The Dutch Formula 1 driver’s salary makes no difference. That’s a good thing, because Verstappen and his F1 team Red Bull Racing have to pay a lot of money to be able to race next year.

You don’t think that in Formula 1 only prize money goes to the teams, do you? No, teams also have to pay a lot to get a starting spot. This so-called Entrance fee The calculation is based on the number of points achieved in the previous season. And the Dutch F1 wonder’s dominance will be an expensive joke next year.

Entry fee in Formula 1

First of all, teams have to pay 575,000 euros annually to take part in the season. In addition, there is a fee per point. For most teams this is between 5,370 and 5,740 euros. Only the manufacturer that is the reigning world champion has to pay more: between 6,440 and 6,920 euros per point.

Thanks to Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing is at the top this Formula 1 season. In this year, with more points to be scored than ever before, the F1 team already has 583 points to its name. That’s almost 4 million euros, with eight races still on the program.

1,950 euros per point for Max Verstappen

Last Sunday, Max broke a decade-long record when he crossed the finish line first in Monza. This was the tenth race in a row that he won and that has never happened before in the history of Formula 1. If Max Verstappen continues this victory, he too will be presented with a hefty bill. There is also a Entrance fee for drivers to ensure their super license (which is mandatory for F1 drivers) remains valid.

The FIA ​​does not want to reveal how many drivers have to pay per point, but it is known that the rate has increased significantly since last year. According to Motorsport.com, this rate is between 1,500 and 1,950 euros per point. The 364 points that Max Verstappen has already collected in this Formula 1 season amount to 546,000 to 710,000 euros.

One million euros because of the many F1 points

As already mentioned, the season is far from over. Thanks to his victory, the Dutchman scores an average of 26 points per race. Huh, but that’s the highest score you can get, and he didn’t win every race, we hear you thinking. That’s right, he also scored points in the first three sprint races. In addition, three more Formula 1 sprint races will follow in the coming months.

If he continues like this, he would end up with around 572 points at the end of the year. That means a bill between 858,000 and 1,115,000 euros. In an interview with an Austrian television station, Max Verstappen is asked whether it was wise that he still collected so many points in 2022 after he had already been crowned champion. “I don’t think about it at all. “I just try to win every race,” says the two-time F1 world champion.

Max Verstappen doesn’t have to open his wallet

“I’m also afraid that we as Red Bull will have to foot this bill,” adds Helmut Marko. Red Bull’s top executives, along with team boss Christian Horner and ex-driver Sebastian Vettel, also take part in the conversation. “I didn’t mean to say that,” Verstappen replies with a laugh. Seriously, Vettel goes on to say: “It’s ridiculous that you have to pay so much to take part in this sport.” An opinion shared by Max Verstappen and the Red Bull Formula 1 team.