BILLIONAIRE BOY

Cash machine Verstappen’s not just threatening Hamilton’s dominance on the track, he is now aiming to take pole position OFF it

WALKING around the paddock in Bahrain, one looked every inch the Formula One superstar, the other looked like a cheeky urchin ever-ready for a practical joke.

Lewis Hamilton was coolness itself, head-to-toe in white with a set of boots straight off the catwalk.

The seven-time world champion has some style, that is for sure.

Max Verstappen, on the other hand, was bouncing around in high street trainers and scuffed jeans, exchanging gags with his fellow drivers.

Yet not only is Verstappen threatening Hamilton’s dominance on the track, he is aiming to take his pole position off it.

And one marketing expert believes the 24-year-old Dutchman, who controversially won his first world title last year, can become the sport’s first billionaire.

Hamilton still sets the gold standard for Formula One earners – last year, Forbes magazine rated him the eighth best-paid sportsman in the world, with an annual income of £62million.

He has a string of blue-chip endorsements, including Tommy Hilfiger, Puma and Vodafone.

Hamilton also has a phenomenal, unrivalled social media reach that he can cash in on – it was recently suggested he could make £67,000 per Instagram post – and he has set up a partnership with Apple to make documentaries and movies.

But Verstappen has started the financial chase, recently signing a new five-year deal with Red Bull worth in excess of a staggering £200m.

The Dutchman – guided by his father, the ex-Formula One driver Jos – has built up a stable of sponsors, including a lucrative deal with streaming service Viaplay, who his dad works for as an analyst.

And the family have set up a tour company, Verstappen Travel, that takes legions of Dutch fans around the globe following Red Bull’s world champion.

More than 20,000 Verstappen supporters are expected to turn the stands orange when the Formula One roadshow moves to Europe, with huge followings expected in Spain, Austria and Belgium.

Dutch marketing expert Chris Woerts said: “Max will have made more than a billion by the time his career is over. He has a cracking deal with Red Bull and he is wanted by all the big companies.

“The money is coming in like a waterfall.”

Despite the controversy of last season’s finale, there is now an unprecedented level of interest – both commercially and amid the general public – in Formula One.

That is why Red Bull have tied the sport’s most exciting young driver to a long-term deal.

And Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, says their relationship with the energy drinks giant remains the priority.

He said: “It has definitely taken off. But we will still see if a commercial offer fits into our total picture and whether we are not going to get into Red Bull’s waters.

“We try to get the right deals from the mass of offers.

“It is clear that the international breakthrough is there. We are working on a few new things and they look good.

“The team radiates that fighter mentality. I think a lot of brands want to identify with that. Max and Red Bull are fighters and will continue to fight for the No.1 spot.

“As far as Max is concerned, it is clear that the racing is the most important thing. Anything that has a negative influence or sidetracks him, he will not get involved with.

“Max has to stand right behind big commercial deals. Max is not an actor, he is a sportsman.

“We have a long agreement with Red Bull, so the rough framework is in place.

“From that basis, we now want to take the next international step to make him bigger.’’

And judging by the numbers, they are a long way down that road already.

BULLISH START Verstappen parks up his Red Bull car after qualifying second for the opening race of the season in Bahrain, while rival Hamilton could only manage fifth place