Formula 1: upper salary limit "completely wrong" - Verstappen becomes clear

Created: 06/10/2022, 15:59

By: Vincent Fischer

In Formula 1, the discussion about a salary cap for drivers has flared up.

World champion Max Verstappen has a clear opinion on this.

Baku – In other sports it has long been part of everyday life: a salary cap for athletes, such as the North American basketball league NBA has already introduced.

This is now also being hotly debated in Formula 1.

There is talk of capping the salaries to a total of 30 million dollars annually for both drivers of each racing team.

While the proposal received a lot of support, the reigning world champion Max Verstappen, of all people, is clearly opposed to the introduction of a salary cap.

Salary cap in Formula 1?

World champion Max Verstappen is against it

"That's completely wrong.

Formula 1 is becoming more and more popular at the moment, and everyone is earning more and more money,” the 24-year-old explains his opinion in the run-up to the Grand Prix in Baku (Azerbaijan).

The Dutchman currently earns a reported 36 million euros per season at Red Bull Racing – and that alone would exceed the amount he would be entitled to together with team-mate Sergio Pérez.

He justifies the high salary with the risk that the drivers are exposed to: "After all, they take care of the show and put their lives at risk." When introducing a salary cap, Verstappen also sees the work of young people in Formula 1 at risk.

This would deter financiers from investing in young drivers.

"If we get a limit, that would also affect all junior series," he fears, "and nobody wants that."

"Formula 1 is our life": Schumacher rejects a salary cap

Verstappen receives support from Valtteri Bottas.

“We always do more for the fans.

And we drivers are at the center, we risk our lives.

I don't see how driver salaries should go down in this situation when Formula 1 as a whole is striving for improvement," said the 32-year-old.

Altstar Fernando Alonso had previously argued similarly.

Formula 1 is not in a crisis, says Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, which is why he considers a limit to be “illogical and not sensible”.

“Formula 1 is our life.

It wouldn't be okay if we weren't rewarded for it," says Mick Schumacher.

"Isn't it funny that the question of a salary cap comes up now, when the teams are starting to earn money in Formula 1 for the first time?" Sebastian Vettel asks.

The ex-world champion had recently received criticism from FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem.

Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton also remains an opponent of the salary cap

Lewis Hamilton had already appeared as an opponent of a salary cap in the past, and he does not appear to have changed his mind.

"I might not be around much longer.

But I don't have the impression that the salary of the upcoming drivers should be capped," explained the Briton.