Last Updated on April 26 2026, 8:54 am Vermeulen recalls tense Verstappen negotiations and a key turning point – Vermeulen, Max Verstappen’s manager, reveals a behind-the-scenes moment from Max Verstappen’s early contract negotiations, recalling how Jos Verstappen once kicked him under the table for pushing too hard on financial terms. The long-time manager used this anecdote to illustrate how dramatically the stakes have grown, with Verstappen now commanding contracts worth hundreds of millions of euros as one of Formula 1’s biggest stars. From karting prospect to global superstar Vermeulen has been involved with the Verstappens since the mid-1990s, initially working with Jos before later managing Max’s career. Reflecting on the journey, Vermeulen pointed to the signing of Verstappen’s first Formula 1 contract nearly 12 years ago as a defining milestone. Finalised after a meeting in Düsseldorf with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, that agreement marked the beginning of a rapid rise. According to Vermeulen, the transformation from promising karting talent to global superstar happened at remarkable speed. He described the progression as something that “went like a rocket”, emphasising how quickly Verstappen established himself at the top of the sport. “A kick under the table” during negotiations Verstappen is now on his seventh Formula 1 contract, with each deal bringing increasingly complex clauses, longer durations and significantly higher salaries. Reports estimate his current earnings at around €60–65 million per year, with total contract values reaching into the hundreds of millions. Vermeulen admitted that he was fully aware of Verstappen’s value from the outset and negotiated accordingly. However, that approach once led to a tense — albeit humorous — moment. During one negotiation, Jos Verstappen physically intervened under the table to signal that the demands might be too ambitious. Vermeulen recalled that the incident later became a source of laughter, especially