The world of sports gives athletes the chance of a lifetime to live out their dreams on a global stage. That being said, with it comes a great deal of financial affluence, too. The sports industry has now become one of the most lucrative places for brands and players alike. And while Formula 1 is considered the pinnacle of motorsport, the arena of racing is yet to catch up to the lofty standards of other sporting series and categories. Red Bull maestro Max Verstappen recently learned this the hard way.

F1 attracts a lot of brands and corporate giants. Sponsorship is a big source of income for racing drivers. Alongside their hefty salaries, they also earn a lot of money through their endorsement deals. With Verstappen being the undisputed king of F1 currently, naturally, his stock is the highest. However, this still isn’t enough for him to top the standings when it comes to the highest-paid athletes in the world.

Kylian Mbappé makes Max Verstappen bite the dust

Football, or soccer as it is more commonly known in the States, is arguably the biggest sporting competition in the entire world. Hence, the best of the best in that arena are supposed to earn the most, too. And that is exactly the case with PSG’s talisman, Kylian Mbappé.

According to the F1 Man, Vincenzo Landino, “The highest-paid athletes under the age of 25 (according to Forbes): 1. Kylian Mbappé – $120M 2. Kyler Murray – $70.5M 3. Max Verstappen – $64M 4. Erling Haaland – $52M 5. Luka Dončić – $47.2M.”

Trending

Lando Norris Fires 3-Word Warning to Zak Brown and Co Despite Riding High on Miami Win

Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas Fall Prey to Theft Right Before Ayrton Senna Tribute

Who Is Oscar Piastri’s Mother, Nicole Piastri? F1’s Overnight Social Media Sensation with Over 63K Followers

Max Verstappen’s Reason for Not Wearing Ayrton Senna T-Shirt Revealed, Attempt to Please GF Kelly Piquet and Family Emerges

Lando Norris’ Rumored GF Magui Corceiro Joins Norris Family Member as Brit Sets Stellar Performance in Imola

“Mbappé went from $43 million last year to $120M and the top spot this year.”

Read More: “The George Russell Effect”: Lando Norris’ Attempt to Mimic Mercedes Star Explodes Into an F1 Twitter Meme-Fest

Even though Verstappen will pocket a whopping $55 million in 2023 from his Red Bull contract, he is still way behind the likes of Mbappé. That being said, though, in the world of F1, the Dutch lion is still the king on and off the track.

Verstappen stands head and shoulders above Lewis Hamilton and Co.

In the last decade or so, Lewis Hamilton was the man to beat. But all of that changed in 2021. Since then, Max Verstappen has taken the mantle of being the driver to beat in this sport. But as a consequence of this, Hamilton may have also lost the top spot in terms of being the highest grossing driver on the grid.

According to Crash.net, in 2023, Verstappen will earn a staggering $55 million from his Red Bull contract. This will make him the highest paid F1 driver on the grid. Where is Hamilton though? While he still will be the 2nd highest, he will earn an eye-watering $20 million less with his $35 million salary.

Watch This Story | Will Max Verstappen Retire Early from F1?

Will Max Verstappen ever reach the heights of soccer players in terms of earnings?