Red Bull auctions Verstappen's Dutch GP race suit to fund spinal cord research

Red Bull has listed Max Verstappen’s special-edition Dutch Grand Prix race suit for charity auction, with 100% of proceeds going to Wings for Life, the foundation dedicated to finding a cure for spinal cord injury.

The suit, worn by the four-time world champion during the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix weekend at Zandvoort, is being sold through the F1 Authentics platform. The winning bidder will receive it professionally framed and personally signed by Verstappen. At the time of writing, the highest bid stands at £37,500, with the auction closing on Sunday 30 August.

The listing carries added significance because Zandvoort hosted what is expected to be Verstappen’s last home race — the Dutch Grand Prix has been dropped from the Formula 1 calendar going forward. The weekend itself was a mixed one for the Dutchman: he scored three points in the sprint race but crashed out of the main grand prix on the opening lap.

The auction was announced shortly after Verstappen signed a contract extension keeping him at Red Bull until the end of 2030. Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal Laurent Mekies, himself a Wings for Life ambassador, said the timing made the piece particularly meaningful.

“This special suit, signed by Max, was designed for what was expected to be his last home race in Zandvoort,” Mekies said. “With 100% of the auction proceeds going directly to Wings for Life, we can transform a rare piece of racing memorabilia into meaningful research to find a cure for spinal cord injury.”

Verstappen has served as an official ambassador for Wings for Life for several years. The foundation was established in 2004 by the late Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz and two-time motocross world champion Heinz Kinigadner.