Max Verstappen has been in talks with the Formula E CEO (Image: Getty)
Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds has confirmed that he held a ‘private conversation’ with ahead of the first weekend of the season in Sao Paulo, teasing an announcement in due course.
Speaking to talkSPORT ahead of the Formula E season opener, Dodds said: “I was on Zoom with Max. Nothing I can talk about yet. We were just having a little private conversation. But maybe I’ll be in a position to let you know what we were talking about next week.”
Dodds bet £200,000 ($250,000) prior to the 2024 F1 season opener in Bahrain that Verstappen would win the Drivers’ Championship, pledging to give the money to a charity of the driver’s choice, should anyone manage to beat the Dutchman.
He told TNT Sport: “99 per cent, he gets that trophy. I’ll tell you what, if he doesn’t win it – so there’s 20 drivers in Formula One – If he doesn’t win it… so there’s 19 other drivers – if any of the other 19 drivers win it, we’ll give a quarter of a million dollars to the charity of the other driver that wins it.”
Dodds then continued: “Yeah, why not? Well, it wouldn’t be the worst day in the office to give a load of money to charity, let’s be honest.
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Jeff Dodds made a bold pre-season bet (Image: Getty)
“But absolutely, he is nailed on to win that season which is why for me, as a fan, or a fan of Formula E and Formula One, I know I’m going to turn up to Sao Paulo – I run Formula E, you’re in the presentation team there – neither of us have any idea who is going to win that race. Right?
“So I’m quite excited by that. I know as a Formula One fan, the season is about to start and yeah, I’ll watch it and the fanfare and everything that goes with it, but I absolutely already know who is winning. You can’t win 19 out of 21 races in one season, go in the off-season, bit of development on the cars, come back for the next one and not win it. I just can’t see it.”
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Despite a spirited fight from , Verstappen ultimately sealed the deal, ending Dodds’ bet in the process. However, talks have still taken place between the pair.
Unfortunately for fans of motorsport’s most popular electric racing series, Verstappen is unlikely to join the Formula E grid anytime soon. He reiterated his commitment to honouring his contract in Abu Dhabi, despite fleeting murmurs among fans of a premature Nico Rosberg-style retirement.