The Formula 1 world is once again on fire after it became known that Max Verstappen has rejected a dizzying contract offer of no less than 80 million dollars a year from a new rising racing team-reportedly supported by a consortium of American and Saudi investors who want to enter the sport from 2026.
But what this story really exploded was to leak a personal, emotional letter that Verstappen wrote to his current team Red Bull Racing. The letter, originally intended for the Christian Horner and Helmut Marko team leadership, was mysteriously shared through an anonymous source and distributed within a few hours as an ongoing fire on social media and international sports media.
In the letter, Verstappen writes among other things:
“Red Bull is not just a team for me – it’s my home. You believed in me when I was only 17, you gave me wings when the rest doubted. No amount in the world can replace that.”
The letter shows a rare vulnerable side of the Dutch triple world champion. Although he recognized the offer as “tempting” and “a sign of my value within this sport,” he emphasized that loyalty, trust and emotional connectedness outweigh him than figures on paper.
The rejected offer reportedly came from a team that has plans to appear on the grid with Mercedes technology and extreme financial support from 2026. They wanted Verstappen not only as a driver, but also as “sporting sign and co -sightary of the project”. The deal would have made him the best -paid driver in the history of F1, even more than the record amount that Lewis Hamilton once received.
Red Bull responded to the news with emotion. Christian Horner said during a press moment in Spa:
“Max has again shown who he is – a real champion, not only on the track, but also as a person. His words touched us deeply.”
Fans worldwide respond divided. Some praise Verstappen for his loyalty and integrity, while others doubt the long -term strategy of the driver, especially now that Red Bull is under pressure because of internal tensions and the advance of teams such as McLaren and Ferrari.
Max Verstappen itself has not yet given an official statement, but his management confirmed that the letter is real and that “the choice has been taken – Max stays with Red Bull until at least 2028, as agreed earlier.”
What is certain is: this event not only marks a remarkable chapter in Verstappens career, but also underlines that in a world full of millions and megadeals, principles can still have a place at the top.
