Max Verstappen is the highest-paid driver on the Formula One grid, and his net worth has soared in the last 12 months as he looks to defend his world championship

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Both Max Verstappen and Virgil van Dijk appear on this rich list(Image: Song Haiyuan/MB Media/Getty Images)

Max Verstappen has overtaken Virgil van Dijk as the richest sportsperson in the Netherlands. The Formula One ace is currently the top-earning driver on the grid, with a yearly salary of nearly £50million.

The Dutch magazine Quote 500 recently released their updated list of the wealthiest individuals in the Netherlands, and Verstappen’s earnings have skyrocketed. He first appeared on the net worth rankings in 2022, starting at the bottom in 500th place.

Now he’s up to 264th, having amassed an impressive £229m during his F1 career. This surge of almost 240 places has seen him surpass Liverpool star Van Dijk, who is the top earner in the entire Dutch national team.

Van Dijk’s estimated worth is around £123m, significantly less than his fellow countryman, who is six years younger. The wealthiest individual in the Netherlands is still a considerable leap away from both Verstappen and Van Dijk, boasting a net worth of £1.7billion.

This title belongs to Dutch media tycoon John de Mol, famed for creating TV hits like Big Brother, The Voice and Deal or No Deal. Both athletes would need to put in quite a bit of effort to reach that level of wealth, but Verstappen currently tops the list as the richest active sportsman.

The F1 ace recently secured third place at the Mexican Grand Prix last weekend as he battles to cling onto his world championship title. Lando Norris overtook McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri in the standings, with merely one point dividing the pair.

Meanwhile, Verstappen trails closely, 36 points behind the leader, but F1 legend Martin Brundle reckons the Dutchman should have been hit with a penalty during the race for failing to attempt to stay on the circuit.

Analysing the incident where the 28-year-old went off at the race start, Sky Sports pundit Brundle said: “Max should have had a penalty, because if you put your car on the far-left and four abreast, it will go on the kerb.

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Max Verstappen is the richest sportsperson in the Netherlands(Image: Kym Illman/Getty Images)

“You can see Max actually accelerate – really skilful driving through the grass, I must say, but Max made no effort whatsoever to take Turns 1, 2 or 3. And that should have been a penalty.

“Max took the risk on the outside, knowing full well he could just bury the throttle and carry on. I might even have given somebody doing what Max did a drive-through, really as a proper deterrent to stop the silliness. Because then it all gets chaotic.”