Will Hamilton now get the same salary as Max? 'He asked for that number'

Since this Thursday, it is finally definite: the Formula 1 community has at least two more years of Lewis Hamilton in their midst. According to rumours, the length of his contract was a major point of negotiation. Probably the amount of his salary was also a point of discussion. Secretly, many will want to know: Will Hamilton earn as much as Max Verstappen from next season?

Verstappen earns $55 million annually at Red Bull Racing, making him the highest-paid F1 driver. So he is earning more than Hamilton this season. "I'm sure he would be asking for that kind of number," Martin Brundle told Sky Sports. "He will value himself the same as Max as a seven-time world champion and he knows he's still got the speed. It will be a number of tens of millions plus bonuses and other things."

George Russell also extended his contract. Both drivers are fixed until the end of 2025. A major rule change will follow in 2026. "Unusual to have both your drivers out of contract at the same time. The new engines come in 2026 but we don't know what other clauses and options are in those contracts. In January of his final year of this new contract, he'll be 40 but then Fernando Alonso is already 42 and look how well he's going at the moment."

To be sure, Brundle believes, money is not the driving force for Hamilton. That eighth world title, that is his goal. "I think it's very much driving him, yes. There are many who believe that had he won the eighth title in Abu Dhabi 2021 he would have retired. So I think it's a big driving force for him to leave the championship tally at eight or more."