[Artemis]

Originally Posted by 3798j

With Max's desire to go GT3 endurance racing, 150m euros helps...a good start for him to have his own team.

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Toto Wolff offered (a bait)! to MAX with a $150Million Mercedes contract !
$150Million ?!?!
That's another F1 Record (the Dutch article) => https://www.gpfans.com/nl/f1-nieuws/...aan-te-bieden/

€150 million is what Verstappen may pocket including bonuses if he meets all maximum targets (WDC & WCC) - not the fixed salary.

Getting Sainz to fill the vacated Mercedes seat would cost Mercedes only a fraction of what they are prepared to put on the table for Verstappen.

Hence, even if Verstappen would decide to stay at RBR, it shows the exceptionally high esteem of the powers that be at Mercedes for Verstappen's F1 racing skills and of his potential to achieve top results with a Mercedes car. Also, if Verstappen drives for Mercedes, he cannot win for Red Bull Racing anymore (WDC/WCC). So that'd be Mercedes hitting two birds with one stone.