Max Verstappen, fresh off his fourth Formula 1 world championship, and Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, teamed up to allocate a $250,000 donation to charity. The amount stems from a bet made by Dodds, who had previously declared he would donate this sum if a driver other than Max Verstappen won the 2024 Drivers’ Championship.
Despite losing the bet when Max Verstappen clinched the title last month in Las Vegas, Dodds chose to honor the donation anyway. Before the São Paulo E-Prix, the 27-year-old Dutch driver participated in a video call with Dodds to decide how to allocate the funds.
Verstappen and Formula E unite for a great cause
The decision was made jointly: Verstappen chose to direct $125,000 to Wings for Life, Red Bull’s partner charity dedicated to spinal cord injury research, while Dodds donated the other half to More than Equal, a fund that promotes opportunities for women in motorsport.
“The charity closest to me is Wings for Life, and I’m sure they’ll be very grateful. Also, supporting any kind of motorsport and young talent is fantastic, so I think it’s a great idea on your part,” said Verstappen during the video call.
With this gesture, Max Verstappen once again demonstrates that sport can be a vehicle for solidarity initiatives. After securing nine victories in the 2023 season, despite a car that was not always competitive, the Red Bull driver continues to stand out not only for his talent but also for his generosity.
“Thank you so much, Jeff. I wish you all the best and will follow the [Formula E] championship in my free time!” These were Verstappen’s closing words, ending the conversation in a spirit of great sportsmanship and collaboration.
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