Jos relieved that Max Verstappen already signed contract: "Distracts otherwise"
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- GPblog.com
Max Verstappen extended his contract with Red Bull Racing at the beginning of January by three years until 2023. For many the signature of the Dutchman came very early, but Jos Verstappen is happy that all negotiations are over. Especially now that the coronavirus is spreading around the world.
"If you have to negotiate a new contract in this situation, it distracts you", Jos Verstappen also knows. The coronavirus has the necessary financial consequences for the business community and can manufacturer Red Bull is also affected. Possibly the negotiations would have had to be postponed or the Austrian race stable could have offered less salary to the 22 year old Limburger.
Jos sees Red Bull closing the gap
Jos is glad that's not the case now. He already stated in April that his son is 'very, very well paid' by Red Bull and that Ricciardo's deal with Renault is in any case worth less. That makes Verstappen one of the best earning athletes in the Netherlands.
The fact that Verstappen linked his future to the team of Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, however, was not due to a tempting paycheck, but really because the feeling is good. "We are very happy at Red Bull and I really think we are closer to it this year than we were last season. But we'll see", he explains.
Nervous Hamilton and Vettel
Finally, the former driver has some nice words to say about how his son presents himself in Formula 1. "Max always drives at the edge. That's what people want to see. Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton get a bit nervous when he drives behind them. Isn't that nice?", Jos smiles.