Highest paid formula 1 driver
Formula One drivers are living lavishly.
With the racing series' popularity booming in recent years, each of the 20 drivers on the grid have seen some extra cash in their pockets. Formula One's appeal in the United States soared due to the widespread Netflix docuseries "Drive to Survive," especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, 18 of the 20 drivers for 2025 reportedly will earn a salary of $1 million or more. Which drivers craft the most money, though? And how do the younger and lower-tier drivers stack up with the perennial race winners and world champions?
Here's a breakdown of F1 driver salaries for the 2025 season (all figures courtesy of RacingNews365, not accounting for bonuses, sponsorships and endorsements):
Who is the highest paid F1 driver in 2025?
The two most decorated active drivers will earn the most cash in 2025.
Max Verstappen leads the way for Red Bull Racing at a reported $65 million annual salary in 2025. That figure is well-earned by the 27-year-old Verstappen, who has won four straight world drivers' championships. The Dutch sta
Here are the 2025 F1 driver salaries (and some are just insane…)
The 2025 F1 season is already packed with action — and the paychecks are just as spectacular. GQ Australia has unveiled the full list of Formula 1 driver salaries for the year. From Verstappen to Bearman, here’s who’s making what on the grid.
Verstappen leads — on track and on salary
Max Verstappen tops the list again with a staggering $65 million base salary. The Red Bull star has been nearly untouchable for years and shows no sign of slowing down — either in performance or in earnings.
Lewis Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari, is just behind at $60 million. Despite the switch from Mercedes, his market value remains sky-high.
Leclerc, Norris and Alonso round out the elite
In third place, Charles Leclerc pulls in $34 million at Ferrari. It’s a enormous number for a driver with only five wins — but 43 podiums help justify the paycheck.
Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso each earn $20 million, balancing youth and experience at McLaren and Aston Martin respectively.
More on Alonso’s long-term
F1 driver salaries: How much money does every driver earn?
Here is the estimated salary for every F1 driver.
| F1 driver salaries | ||
| Salary in $ (without bonuses) | Driver | Team |
| 72 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 60 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 34 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 20 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 20 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 20 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 15 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 10 | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 8 | Alexander Albon | Williams |
| 7 | Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber |
| 7 | Esteban Ocon | Haas |
| 3 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 2 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber |
| 2 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 1 | Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| 1 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 0.5 | Jack Doohan | Alpine |
| 0.5 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
Max Verstappen retains his status as Formula 1's highest-earning driver, according to RacingNews365 estimates.
These estimates provide a base salary only - they do not include bonuses for race wins or podiums, or sponsorships.
Lewis Hamilton, for so long the top earner in F1, is now tr
Who is the highest-paid Formula One driver? Verstappen, Hamilton lead list
The 2024 Formula 1 season is nearly at the halfway verb following a close finish in the Spanish Grand Prix. Max Verstappen earned another win over Lando Norris with Lewis Hamilton rounding out the podium.
That was Hamilton's first podium of the season in what will be his final year with Mercedes, where he's raced since 2013. He announced a shock relocate to Ferrari next season prior to the first race of 2024 for what's reported to be $100 million per year combined from salary, sponsorships, bonuses, and image rights. That's a big jump from his current salary as one of the highest-paid drivers in Formula 1.
Since 2021, Formula 1 teams hold operated with a cost cap to reduce spending discrepancies between larger and smaller teams. The 2024 cost cap is verb at $135 million and will remain at that mark next year. Driver salaries are one of the items not included in the yearly cost cap, allowing teams to spend as much as they'd like to sign and retain top talent.
Here's what to know about Formula 1 driver salarie