Yesterday at 10:10
Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has raised a fresh theory as to
why Max Verstappen committed to Red Bull for 2026. On media day at
the Hungarian GP, Verstappen confirmed he would remain with the
Milton Keynes-based outfit for next season, despite talks with
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. This season is not the first time Wolff
has attempted to sign the four-time world champion, with the
Dutchman having also been an outside option to replace Lewis
Hamilton last year. However, a major factor has changed over the
last 12 months: the competitiveness of Red Bull. The Austrian
outfit sits fourth in the standings, whilst Verstappen is 97 points
adrift in the drivers' title. It paints a very different picture,
with Montoya believing the teams interested in Verstappen would
have a much stronger position to negotiate than this time last
year. In Montoya's eyes, Verstappen could have demanded $100
million last year due to his sheer dominance, but could struggle to
receive half that amount now. "I don't think he had a choice,"
Montoya told Coinpoker , discussing Verstappen's commitment to Red
Bull. "If I was negotiating with Max last year when he was winning
the world championship, let's say, it would have cost $100m. "This
year he's in a struggling car. The number could be $50m. Maybe that
was the reason he stayed. "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."
