The four-time World Champion Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton are amongst the highest-paid drivers in Formula 1, but who tops the list?
Verstappen hit the jackpot in Las Vegas as he secured his fourth Drivers’ Championship in a row, fending off a mid to late-season charge from McLaren driver Lando Norris.
It seems the Dutchman has been rewarded for his efforts in 2024 as he tops the list for the highest-paid drivers in the sport, according to RacingNews365.
However, after his ground-breaking move to the Scuderia, Hamilton is close behind Verstappen as he chases an eighth title in F1 this year.
The 27-year-old reportedly earns around the $65 million mark whilst the seven-time World Champion is $5 million short of the Red Bull driver’s earnings.
After his recovery drive in Brazil from 17th to winning the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, its no wonder why the Austrian team have made him the highest earner.
The figures are only an estimation of the annual base income drivers receive – not including bonuses for race wins and podiums or figures from contracts with personal sponsors.
What is for sure is that Verstappen is tied down to a deal at the Milton Keynes-based squad until 2028.
But the rumour mill suggests he is being courted by Aston Martin as reports of a $1 billion offer have surfaced in recent weeks.
What the exact salary would be is unknown, but if team owner Lawrence Stroll has $1bn lying around to snatch Verstappen from Red Bull, it could set him on his way to becoming the highest-paid F1 athlete of all time.
How much does the rest of the grid earn?
Hamilton’s new team-mate Charles Leclerc is third on the list, earning around $34 million on a contract that runs until 2028.
The British driver’s earnings are boosted by various bonuses and several deals off-track which push his total income to around the $100 million threshold.
He still slots in between Leclerc and Verstappen in second place on this list, as his deal runs out in 2026 with an option to extend afterwards.
Fernando Alonso and Norris share fourth place on $20 million per year, both having the option to extend after 2026 like Hamilton.
The 2025 lead Mercedes driver George Russell is sixth on the list, with a base salary of $15 million.
Carlos Sainz’s first deal with Williams sees him earning $10 million until 2027, alongside Alpine’s Pierre Gasly on the same salary, whilst the Spaniard’s team-mate Alex Albon is on $8 million.
Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon are both on $7 million per year until 2027 with Sauber and Haas.
Finally, all the way down in 12th place on the list is Oscar Piastri, according to the latest reports.
The Australian is only on $6 million but his last contract extension was back in his debut season in F1.
Lance Stroll earns $3 million and Yuki Tsunoda is on $2million, as all of the 2025 rookies will reportedly earn less or the same as the Japanese driver.
Including Verstappen’s new team-mate, Liam Lawson, who is supposedly on $1 million a year – $64 million less than his new partner at Red Bull.
Gabriel Bortoleto at Sauber and Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes are the highest-earning debutants with $2 million a year.
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