A multi-millionaire once ‘refused’ to sponsor Max Verstappen’s F1 career – although he subsequently admitted this was a mistake.
Verstappen, 27, is the reigning F1 champion and has captured four consecutive drivers’ championships in recent years.
These days, the Red Bull man is one of the most marketable drivers in the sport, but one Dutch multi-millionaire did not take up the opportunity to sponsor him despite previously backing Max’s father, Jos, during his F1 career, which spanned from 1994 to 2003.
Max's talent was there for all to see, having his F1 debut at just 17 years old when he signed for Toro Rosso in 2015.
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And in doing so, he became F1's youngest-ever driver. But not everyone was prepared to gamble.
The man in question is a multi-millionaire businessman called Michel Perridon, who founded the electronics company Trust.
The Dutchman provided sponsorship for Jos in the early 2000s. But when Raymond Vermeulen, who has managed both Verstappens, came to Perridon with an appealing offer to sponsor Max, he did not take up the opportunity.
“I always sponsored Jos Verstappen with my company, Max's father, and that cost millions," Perridon told The Dutch Dragons podcast.
"At one point, his manager comes to me, [he is] also Max's manager. He said, 'Do you want to invest five million? Then you get 10 per cent of all of Max's income for the rest of his life.'
"But what did Jan Lul [a Dutch fictional character, often used as a name for someone who has done something stupid] say? 'I won't do it. I've invested enough in your family...'," he added.
"A small mistake... You get it wrong sometimes, too, huh?"
Despite missing out on the opportunity, the Dutch businessman still has a reported net worth of around €250m.
As for Verstappen, his bank balance has hardly been affected as the 27-year-old pockets an estimated $65m per year, with bonuses included, according to RacingNews365, with his net worth thought to be near the $210m mark – although this has not been confirmed.
The Red Bull man is currently sponsored by huge global corporations such as Heineken, Viaplay and EA Sports.
Topics: Max Verstappen, Formula 1, Red Bull Racing
Luke Davies