Max Verstappen signs new Red Bull contract worth £40m per year

The Dutch driver has been rewarded for beating Lewis Hamilton to the world title last year

The Dutch driver has been rewarded for beating Lewis Hamilton to the world title last year (Getty Images)

Max Verstappen has signed a new deal with Red Bull which is set to land him one of the biggest pay days in Formula One history.

It is understood the world champion’s contract extension, which could be announced as early as Thursday, is worth as much as £40million-a-season.

The Dutchman’s bumper salary hike matches Lewis Hamilton’s £80m two-year Mercedes deal which expires at the end of next year.

Verstappen, 24, has been rewarded for beating Hamilton to the world title last year – and it is anticipated his new terms will see him remain a Red Bull driver for at least five more seasons.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has long been an admirer of Verstappen, with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner claiming the Dutchman would be his rival’s number one target when Hamilton retires.

But relations became strained between the two parties during last year’s toxic title battle.

For his part, Verstappen, who made his F1 debut when he was 17 before becoming the sport’s youngest winner when he triumphed on his Red Bull debut a year later, has always said he will remain with the Milton Keynes team if they delivered a machine capable of fighting for world titles.

Verstappen will open his championship defence later this month when the new season starts in Bahrain on March 20.