'See Verstappen staying linked to Red Bull even after F1 career'

Max's future at Red Bull

"Max has a very bright future whatever he chooses to do," said Coulthard in conversation with GP Racing magazine. The Scot himself raced for the Austrian racing stable between 2005 and 2008, but is still involved with Red Bull ambassador 15 years later. So Coulthard has been around for a while, but perhaps Verstappen will break that (still ongoing) term.

Verstappen is stuck with Red Bull Racing until 2028 and on more than one occasion he has hinted that he might quit Formula 1 after that. According to Coulthard, however, that does not necessarily mean an immediate end to his relationship with the canning giant.

"Considering that I’m still associated with Red Bull 15 years after I finished racing in F1, Max can look forward to similarly long-term relationships", he states. "It’s the model Jackie Stewart first introduced, and Max is perfectly placed to build on everything he’s achieving. He’s very dedicated to his racing, does precisely what’s required to get the job done and is authentic in what he delivers."

Verstappen grabs large salary

Needless to say, Verstappen is paid handsomely for the services he provides. How much money the upcoming triple world champion earns on an annual basis at Red Bull and what he is credited with for deals with the likes of Heineken and EA is not entirely clear, but what is clear is that it will total more than 50 million and perhaps a lot more.

Only Raymond Vermeulen and the Verstappen family know the answer to the above question, but at least Coulthard knows: Verstappen is and will remain in demand. "What you see is what you get, and that’s appealing to partners," he concludes.