The wait is finally over. After weeks of speculations and Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff saying how it’s just down to the fine details, the seven-time champion’s contract extension with Mercedes is finally confirmed. During the entire contract negotiation period, it became clear that both parties were equally interested in continuing their partnership. The only thing that was standing in the way was the duration of the contract, and Mercedes has confirmed Hamilton will stay at Brackley until 2025. Not just that. Along with the extending partnership, Hamilton has retaken his spot at the front in terms of the highest-paid driver on the grid!

Who did he reclaim that spot from? Max Verstappen. When the reigning world champion signed a huge deal with Red Bull to stay at Milton Keynes until the end of 2028, he was reported to receive a staggering $55 million a year. But now, $285 million-worth Lewis Hamilton has put Verstappen’s deal to shame. As reported by the Mirror, “If [Hamilton’s] loyalty to the team was not enough, then the financial terms of his new Mercedes deal made it so that no one could compete for the 38-year-old’s signature.” With Ferrari having shown interest in him previously, even the most resourceful team wouldn’t be able to get Hamilton on its side now.

As per reports, Hamilton is set to make 50 million pounds per season for the next two seasons, which converts to a mammoth $63 million. Looks like Mercedes wasn’t joking when Ferrari offered the seven-time champion a $49 million deal, and Mercedes was said to have offered Hamilton this exact $63 million deal.

Read More: Minutes After Signing New Mercedes Deal, Lewis Hamilton Breaks Silence for the 1st Time to Reveal Long Term Objectives

How much longer do you think Lewis Hamilton will sit atop this list of highest-paid drivers in F1?