Formula E is donating $250,000 to charity following Max Verstappen's fourth Formula 1 championship victory. The donation originated from a playful bet by Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds, who initially promised to donate if someone defeated Verstappen this season.

During a video call between Dodds and Verstappen before Formula E's Sao Paulo round, the donation was confirmed and split between two causes:

• $125,000 to Wings For Life, Red Bull's spinal cord injury research charity
• $125,000 to support women in motorsport initiatives

"What started as a very tongue-in-cheek 'bet' has evolved into a serious commitment to support gender equity within our championship," said Dodds, emphasizing Formula E's goal of seeing women compete full-time in the series.

Verstappen responded positively to the initiative: "The charity closest to me is Wings For Life and I'm sure they'll be very grateful; and to support any kind of motorsport and young talent is amazing."

Formula E has also partnered with More Than Equal, a non-profit organization, to research barriers faced by women in motorsport. This follows the series' recent milestone of hosting the first all-women's test for an FIA world championship at Jarama.

Dr. Fran Longstaff, head of research at More than Equal, stated they will work with drivers, team managers, and engineers to develop actionable recommendations for driver development, focusing on the unique skills required in Formula E.

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