Max Verstappen
Red Bull Racing
$70m
base salary
The top of the grid
- Total
- $78m
- Contract to
- 2030
Formula One Salaries provides a full ranking of Formula 1 driver salaries for 2026, detailing base salaries, performance bonuses, total earnings, and team compensation structures for all drivers on the grid. Formula One Salaries offers data on how financial rewards are structured in Formula 1, including comparisons of contract values and net worth across different drivers.
Last updated
The table below provides a full ranking of 2026 Formula 1 drivers, organized from the highest to the lowest base salary.
Shown in US dollars, the currency most salary reporting uses. Euro and pound figures are converted at the European Central Bank reference rate of 30 September 2026 (€1 = $1.1355 = £0.85463) — a translation of the estimate, not the currency the contract was signed in. Showing 22.
| # | Driver | Team | Base salary | Est. bonus | Total earnings | Contract to | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing | | $70m | — | $78m Forbes 2026 list | 2030 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Estimate up from $65m; his extension to 2030 was signed in August 2026. With bonuses: $78m (salary and bonuses over the 12 months to 1 May 2026; endorsements excluded) Contract and career
Two-year extension on top of his existing deal (Aug 2026). Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | | $60m | — | $70m Forbes 2026 list | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $70m (salary and bonuses over the 12 months to 1 May 2026; endorsements excluded) Contract and career
Multi-year deal; a 2028 option is reported. Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 3 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | | $34m | — | — | 2028 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Contract and career
New deal signed June 2026; length not disclosed. Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 3 | George Russell Mercedes | | $34m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Re-signed for 2026 after his previous Mercedes contract ran out at the end of 2025. Contract and career
Mercedes exercised its option for 2027. Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 5 | Lando Norris McLaren | | $30m | — | $55m Forbes 2026 list | 2030 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Won the 2025 world championship. With bonuses: $55m (salary and bonuses over the 12 months to 1 May 2026; endorsements excluded) Contract and career
Extension to 2030 with a multi-year option (Aug 2026). Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 6 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | | $20m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Contract and career
Long-term contract extended (Sept 2026); the team gave no end year. Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 7 | Carlos Sainz Williams | | $13m | — | — | 2028 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Second season of his Williams contract; estimate up from $10m. Contract and career
New multi-year deal (Aug 2026). Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 7 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | | $13m | — | — | 2028 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Contract extension signed in March 2025, running to 2028. Contract and career
Multi-year extension (March 2025). Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 9 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | | $12m | — | — | 2028 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Contract extension signed in September 2025. Contract and career
Long-term extension (Sept 2025). Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 9 | Alex Albon Williams | | $12m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Estimate up from $8m. Contract and career
One-year extension (Aug 2026). Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 9 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | | $12m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 A revision more than a raise: Aston Martin’s filed accounts show about $12m a year paid for his services in 2024 and 2025, against the earlier $3m estimate. Contract and career
Long-term contract extended (Sept 2026); the team gave no end year. Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 12 | Sergio Pérez Cadillac Out of F1 in 2025 | | $8m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Out of F1 in 2025 Contract and career
Multi-year deal with the new Cadillac team. Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 13 | Nico Hülkenberg Audi | | $7m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Contract and career
Already under contract; Audi confirmed its 2027 line-up (Sept 2026). Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 13 | Esteban Ocon Haas | | $7m | — | — | 2026 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Contract and career
Multi-year from 2025; leaving Haas at the end of 2026 (announced Sept 2026). Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 15 | Isack Hadjar Red Bull Racing Missed rounds 12–14 with a wrist injury | | $5m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Promoted from Racing Bulls to Red Bull Racing. Missed rounds 12–14 with a wrist injury Contract and career
Extended contract (Sept 2026). Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 15 | Valtteri Bottas Cadillac Out of F1 in 2025 | | $5m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Out of F1 in 2025 Contract and career
Multi-year deal with the new Cadillac team. Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 17 | Gabriel Bortoleto Audi | | $2m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Contract and career
Already under contract; Audi confirmed its 2027 line-up (Sept 2026). Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 17 | Kimi Antonelli Mercedes | | $2m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Contract and career
Long-term deal. Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 19 | Oliver Bearman Haas | | $1m | — | — | 2026 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Contract and career
On loan from Ferrari on a two-plus-one deal; Haas has not yet taken up its option for 2027. Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 19 | Liam Lawson Racing Bulls Drove for Red Bull Racing in rounds 12–14 | | $1m | — | — | 2026 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Drove for Red Bull Racing in rounds 12–14 Contract and career
One-year contract. Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 21 | Franco Colapinto Alpine | | $500k–$1m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Contract and career
Extension for 2027 (Aug 2026). Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 21 | Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls The only rookie on the 2026 grid | | $500k–$1m | — | — | 2026 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 The only rookie on the 2026 grid Contract and career
Rookie contract from the Red Bull junior programme. Base salary by season
| |||||||
No driver matches that filter.
| # | Driver | Team | Base salary | Est. bonus | Total earnings | Contract to | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing | | $65m | $11m Forbes | $76m Forbes | 2028 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $76m ($65m salary + $11m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | | $60m | $500k Forbes | $70.5m Forbes | 2026 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $70.5m ($70m salary + $500k bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 3 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | | $34m | $0 Forbes | $30m Forbes | 2028 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $30m ($30m salary + $0 bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 4 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | | $20m | $2.5m Forbes | $26.5m Forbes | 2026 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $26.5m ($24m salary + $2.5m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 4 | Lando Norris McLaren | | $20m | $39.5m Forbes | $57.5m Forbes | 2026 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $57.5m ($18m salary + $39.5m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 6 | George Russell Mercedes | | $15m | $11m Forbes | $26m Forbes | 2025 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $26m ($15m salary + $11m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 7 | Carlos Sainz Williams | | $10m | $3m Forbes | $13m Forbes | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $13m ($10m salary + $3m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 7 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | | $10m | — | — | 2026 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 9 | Alex Albon Williams | | $8m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 10 | Nico Hülkenberg Sauber | | $7m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 10 | Esteban Ocon Haas | | $7m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 12 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | | $6m | $27.5m Forbes | $37.5m Forbes | 2026 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $37.5m ($10m salary + $27.5m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 13 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin Aston Martin’s filed accounts show $12.2m paid to his company for 2025 | | $3m | $1.5m Forbes | $13.5m Forbes | — | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Aston Martin’s filed accounts show $12.2m paid to his company for 2025 With bonuses: $13.5m ($12m salary + $1.5m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 14 | Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber | | $2m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 14 | Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull Racing Swapped seats with Liam Lawson early in the season | | $2m | — | — | 2025 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Swapped seats with Liam Lawson early in the season Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 14 | Kimi Antonelli Mercedes | | $2m | $7.5m Forbes | $12.5m Forbes | 2025 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $12.5m ($5m salary + $7.5m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 17 | Oliver Bearman Haas | | $1m | — | — | 2027 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 17 | Liam Lawson Racing Bulls Swapped seats with Yuki Tsunoda early in the season | | $1m | — | — | 2026 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Swapped seats with Yuki Tsunoda early in the season Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 19 | Jack Doohan Alpine Replaced by Franco Colapinto mid-season | | $500k–$1m | — | — | 2026 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Replaced by Franco Colapinto mid-season Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 19 | Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls | | $500k–$1m | — | — | 2026 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| — | Franco Colapinto Alpine Joined mid-season; no figure published | | — | — | — | — | |
| The figure Undisclosed Joined mid-season; no figure published Base salary by season
| |||||||
No driver matches that filter.
| # | Driver | Team | Base salary | Est. bonus | Total earnings | Contract to | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing | | $55m | $15m Forbes | $75m Forbes | 2028 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $75m ($60m salary + $15m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton Mercedes | | $45m | $2m Forbes | $57m Forbes | 2025 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $57m ($55m salary + $2m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 3 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | | $34m | $12m Forbes | $27m Forbes | 2028 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $27m ($15m salary + $12m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 4 | Lando Norris McLaren | | $20m | $23m Forbes | $35m Forbes | 2025 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $35m ($12m salary + $23m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 5 | George Russell Mercedes | | $18m | $8m Forbes | $23m Forbes | 2025 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $23m ($15m salary + $8m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 5 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | | $18m | $3.5m Forbes | $27.5m Forbes | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $27.5m ($24m salary + $3.5m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 7 | Sergio Pérez Red Bull Racing | | $14m | $7.5m Forbes | $19.5m Forbes | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $19.5m ($12m salary + $7.5m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 8 | Carlos Sainz Ferrari | | $12m | $9m Forbes | $19m Forbes | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $19m ($10m salary + $9m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 9 | Valtteri Bottas Sauber | | $10m | — | — | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 10 | Daniel Ricciardo RB Replaced by Liam Lawson mid-season | | $7m | — | — | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Replaced by Liam Lawson mid-season Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 11 | Esteban Ocon Alpine | | $6m | — | — | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 11 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | | $6m | $2m Forbes | $12m Forbes | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $12m ($10m salary + $2m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 11 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | | $6m | $17m Forbes | $22m Forbes | 2026 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $22m ($5m salary + $17m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 14 | Kevin Magnussen Haas | | $5m | — | — | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 15 | Alex Albon Williams | | $3m | — | — | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 15 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | | $3m | — | — | — | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 17 | Nico Hülkenberg Haas | | $2m | — | — | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 17 | Zhou Guanyu Sauber | | $2m | — | — | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 19 | Yuki Tsunoda RB | | $1m | — | — | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 19 | Logan Sargeant Williams Replaced by Franco Colapinto mid-season | | $1m | — | — | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Replaced by Franco Colapinto mid-season Base salary by season
| |||||||
| — | Oliver Bearman Ferrari, Haas Substitute starts; no figure published | ![]() | — | — | — | — | |
| The figure Undisclosed Substitute starts; no figure published Base salary by season
| |||||||
| — | Franco Colapinto Williams Joined mid-season; no figure published | | — | — | — | — | |
| The figure Undisclosed Joined mid-season; no figure published Base salary by season
| |||||||
| — | Liam Lawson RB Joined mid-season; no figure published | | — | — | — | — | |
| The figure Undisclosed Joined mid-season; no figure published Base salary by season
| |||||||
| — | Jack Doohan Alpine One start at the final round; no figure published | | — | — | — | — | |
| The figure Undisclosed One start at the final round; no figure published Base salary by season
| |||||||
No driver matches that filter.
| # | Driver | Team | Base salary | Est. bonus | Total earnings | Contract to | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing | | $55m | $25m Forbes | $70m Forbes | 2028 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $70m ($45m salary + $25m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton Mercedes | | $35m | $0 Forbes | $55m Forbes | 2023 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $55m ($55m salary + $0 bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 3 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari Other estimates for the same season run as high as $36m | | $24m | $5m Forbes | $19m Forbes | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Other estimates for the same season run as high as $36m With bonuses: $19m ($14m salary + $5m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 4 | Lando Norris McLaren | | $20m | $10m Forbes | $15m Forbes | 2025 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $15m ($5m salary + $10m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 5 | Carlos Sainz Ferrari | | $12m | $6m Forbes | $14m Forbes | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $14m ($8m salary + $6m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 6 | Sergio Pérez Red Bull Racing | | $10m | $16m Forbes | $26m Forbes | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $26m ($10m salary + $16m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 6 | Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo | | $10m | — | — | 2025 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 8 | George Russell Mercedes | | $8m | $5m Forbes | $9m Forbes | 2023 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $9m ($4m salary + $5m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 9 | Esteban Ocon Alpine | | $6m | — | — | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 10 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin Other estimates put his salary for the same season at about $24m | | $5m | $10m Forbes | $34m Forbes | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Other estimates put his salary for the same season at about $24m With bonuses: $34m ($24m salary + $10m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 10 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | | $5m | $3m Forbes | $8m Forbes | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $8m ($5m salary + $3m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 10 | Kevin Magnussen Haas | | $5m | — | — | 2023 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 13 | Alex Albon Williams | | $3m | — | — | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 14 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | | $2m | — | — | — | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 14 | Nico Hülkenberg Haas | | $2m | — | — | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 14 | Nyck de Vries AlphaTauri Replaced by Daniel Ricciardo mid-season | | $2m | — | — | 2023 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Replaced by Daniel Ricciardo mid-season Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 14 | Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo | | $2m | — | — | 2023 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 14 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | | $2m | $5m Forbes | $8m Forbes | 2024 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 With bonuses: $8m ($3m salary + $5m bonuses) Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 19 | Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri | | $1m | — | — | 2023 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| 19 | Logan Sargeant Williams | | $1m | — | — | 2023 | |
| The figure Estimated Checked 1 October 2026 Base salary by season
| |||||||
| — | Daniel Ricciardo AlphaTauri Joined mid-season; no race-seat figure published | | — | — | — | — | |
| The figure Undisclosed Joined mid-season; no race-seat figure published Base salary by season
| |||||||
| — | Liam Lawson AlphaTauri Substitute starts; no figure published | | — | — | — | — | |
| The figure Undisclosed Substitute starts; no figure published Base salary by season
| |||||||
No driver matches that filter.
Compare two F1 drivers salary
Pick any two drivers from the table to set their base salaries side by side: who is paid more, by how much, and how well each figure is known.
Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing · $70m
Lewis Hamilton Ferrari · $60m
Charles Leclerc Ferrari · $34m
George Russell Mercedes · $34m
Lando Norris McLaren · $30m
Fernando Alonso Aston Martin · $20m
Carlos Sainz Williams · $13m
Oscar Piastri McLaren · $13m
Pierre Gasly Alpine · $12m
Alex Albon Williams · $12m
Lance Stroll Aston Martin · $12m
Sergio Pérez Cadillac · $8m
Nico Hülkenberg Audi · $7m
Esteban Ocon Haas · $7m
Isack Hadjar Red Bull Racing · $5m
Valtteri Bottas Cadillac · $5m
Gabriel Bortoleto Audi · $2m
Kimi Antonelli Mercedes · $2m
Oliver Bearman Haas · $1m
Liam Lawson Racing Bulls · $1m
Franco Colapinto Alpine · $500k–$1m
Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls · $500k–$1m
Openly licensed via Wikimedia Commons; a driver shown with initials has no portrait yet.
Trademarks of their owners, shown only to identify each team.
Below is a list of the highest-paid F1 drivers in 2026, showcasing their impressive earnings and financial standings within the sport.
The lowest-paid Formula 1 drivers in 2026 are listed below, highlighting those earning the least on the grid. Gabriel Bortoleto and Kimi Antonelli share the fifth-lowest figure, so six drivers are listed. One of them, Kimi Antonelli, leads the championship after round 15.
Franco Colapinto
$500k–$1m
base salary
Extension for 2027 (Aug 2026) · to 2027
In F1 since 2024 · 2 years
Arvid Lindblad
$500k–$1m
base salary
Rookie contract from the Red Bull junior programme · to 2026
Rookie season
Oliver Bearman
$1m
base salary
On loan from Ferrari on a two-plus-one deal; Haas has not yet taken up its option for 2027 · to 2026
In F1 since 2024 · 2 years
Liam Lawson
$1m
base salary
One-year contract · to 2026
In F1 since 2023 · 3 years
Gabriel Bortoleto
$2m
base salary
Already under contract; Audi confirmed its 2027 line-up (Sept 2026) · to 2027
In F1 since 2025 · 1 year
Kimi Antonelli
$2m
base salary
Long-term deal · to 2027
In F1 since 2025 · 1 year
The pay gap between the highest and lowest-paid Formula 1 drivers in 2026 is substantial. Max Verstappen, the highest-paid driver, receives a base salary of $70 million, while the lowest-paid drivers, Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto, earn between $500,000 and $1 million. This creates a salary gap ranging from $69 million to $69.5 million, depending on the lower end of the scale, translating to Verstappen earning about 70 to 140 times more than the lowest earners.
Several factors contribute to this disparity. Experience and championship success influence salary levels to a high degree, with top drivers commanding substantial salaries due to their proven track records. The financial capacity of teams such as Red Bull and Ferrari allows them to offer lucrative contracts. Marketability and sponsorship potential further widen the earnings gap, as drivers with high public profiles and endorsement deals tend to secure higher salaries. The combination of these factors produces a pronounced pay gap within the F1 driver salary structure.
Lowest paid

Colapinto · Lindblad
$500k–$1m
70×–140×
gap of $69m–$69.5m
Highest paid
Verstappen
$70m
F1 driver salaries in 2026 vary across teams, reflecting differences in budget, driver experience, and team strategy. Below are the F1 driver salaries organized by team for the 2026 season.
| Spend Rank | Team | Driver 1 | Salary | Driver 2 | Salary | Combined | Show this team’s detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Lewis Hamilton | Charles Leclerc | $94m | |||
| 2 | | Max Verstappen | Isack Hadjar | $75m | |||
| 3 | | Lando Norris | Oscar Piastri | $43m | |||
| 4 | | George Russell | Kimi Antonelli | $36m | |||
| 5 | | Fernando Alonso | Lance Stroll | $32m | |||
| 6 | | Carlos Sainz | Alex Albon | $25m | |||
| 7 | | Sergio Pérez | Valtteri Bottas | $13m | |||
| 8 | | Pierre Gasly | Franco Colapinto | $12.5m–$13m | |||
| 9 | | Nico Hülkenberg | Gabriel Bortoleto | $9m | |||
| 10 | | Esteban Ocon | Oliver Bearman | $8m | |||
| 11 | | Liam Lawson | Arvid Lindblad | $1.5m–$2m |
Base salaries; ranges are summed at both ends and ranked at the midpoint. Select a team’s row to see how its pair splits the money.
Red Bull Racing spends $75m on its two drivers, 2nd of 11 teams in the table above. Max Verstappen is paid $70m and Isack Hadjar $5m, so the better-paid driver takes 93% of the pair’s pay, 14× the teammate’s.
Verstappen is signed to 2030 — two-year extension on top of his existing deal (Aug 2026). Hadjar is signed to 2027 — extended contract (Sept 2026). Liam Lawson drove the second car for three rounds while Hadjar recovered from a wrist injury.
Combined pay of both drivers
$75m
Rank 2 of 11 teams
Max Verstappen $70m · 93%
Isack Hadjar $5m · 7% Salary profiles link here as they are published.
Ferrari spends $94m on its two drivers, the most of any team in the table above. Lewis Hamilton is paid $60m and Charles Leclerc $34m, so the better-paid driver takes 64% of the pair’s pay, 1.8× the teammate’s.
Hamilton is signed to 2027 — multi-year deal; a 2028 option is reported. Leclerc is signed to 2028 — new deal signed June 2026; length not disclosed. That new deal is reported to be worth up to €50m a year — above the figure in the table, which predates it.
Combined pay of both drivers
$94m
Rank 1 of 11 teams
Lewis Hamilton $60m · 64%
Charles Leclerc $34m · 36% Salary profiles link here as they are published.
McLaren spends $43m on its two drivers, 3rd of 11 teams in the table above. Lando Norris is paid $30m and Oscar Piastri $13m, so the better-paid driver takes 70% of the pair’s pay, 2.3× the teammate’s.
Norris is signed to 2030 — extension to 2030 with a multi-year option (Aug 2026). Piastri is signed to 2028 — multi-year extension (March 2025).
Combined pay of both drivers
$43m
Rank 3 of 11 teams
Lando Norris $30m · 70%
Oscar Piastri $13m · 30%
Mercedes spends $36m on its two drivers, 4th of 11 teams in the table above. George Russell is paid $34m and Kimi Antonelli $2m, so the better-paid driver takes 94% of the pair’s pay, 17× the teammate’s.
Russell is signed to 2027 — Mercedes exercised its option for 2027. Antonelli is signed to 2027 — long-term deal.
Combined pay of both drivers
$36m
Rank 4 of 11 teams
George Russell $34m · 94%
Kimi Antonelli $2m · 6% Salary profiles link here as they are published.
Aston Martin spends $32m on its two drivers, 5th of 11 teams in the table above. Fernando Alonso is paid $20m and Lance Stroll $12m, so the better-paid driver takes 63% of the pair’s pay, 1.7× the teammate’s.
Alonso is signed to 2027 — long-term contract extended (Sept 2026); the team gave no end year. Stroll is signed to 2027 — long-term contract extended (Sept 2026); the team gave no end year. Stroll’s is the one salary on the grid that has appeared in company accounts: Aston Martin’s filings show $12.3m paid for his services in 2024.
Combined pay of both drivers
$32m
Rank 5 of 11 teams
Fernando Alonso $20m · 63%
Lance Stroll $12m · 38% Salary profiles link here as they are published.
Williams spends $25m on its two drivers, 6th of 11 teams in the table above. Carlos Sainz is paid $13m and Alex Albon $12m, the closest split of any pairing on the grid.
Sainz is signed to 2028 — new multi-year deal (Aug 2026). Albon is signed to 2027 — one-year extension (Aug 2026).
Combined pay of both drivers
$25m
Rank 6 of 11 teams
Carlos Sainz $13m · 52%
Alex Albon $12m · 48% Salary profiles link here as they are published.
Alpine spends $12.5m–$13m on its two drivers, 8th of 11 teams in the table above. Pierre Gasly is paid $12m and Franco Colapinto $500k–$1m, so the better-paid driver takes 94% of the pair’s pay, 16× the teammate’s.
Gasly is signed to 2028 — long-term extension (Sept 2025). Colapinto is signed to 2027 — extension for 2027 (Aug 2026).
Combined pay of both drivers
$12.5m–$13m
Rank 8 of 11 teams
Pierre Gasly $12m · 94%
Franco Colapinto $500k–$1m · 6% Salary profiles link here as they are published.
Racing Bulls spends $1.5m–$2m on its two drivers, the least of any team in the table above. Liam Lawson is paid $1m and Arvid Lindblad $500k–$1m, so the better-paid driver takes 57% of the pair’s pay, 1.3× the teammate’s.
Lawson is signed to 2026 — one-year contract. Lindblad is signed to 2026 — rookie contract from the Red Bull junior programme. Both are Red Bull juniors on the programme’s usual short terms.
Combined pay of both drivers
$1.5m–$2m
Rank 11 of 11 teams
Liam Lawson $1m · 57%
Arvid Lindblad $500k–$1m · 43% Salary profiles link here as they are published.
Haas spends $8m on its two drivers, 10th of 11 teams in the table above. Esteban Ocon is paid $7m and Oliver Bearman $1m, so the better-paid driver takes 88% of the pair’s pay, 7× the teammate’s.
Ocon is signed to 2026 — multi-year from 2025; leaving Haas at the end of 2026 (announced Sept 2026). Bearman is signed to 2026 — on loan from Ferrari on a two-plus-one deal; Haas has not yet taken up its option for 2027.
Combined pay of both drivers
$8m
Rank 10 of 11 teams
Esteban Ocon $7m · 88%
Oliver Bearman $1m · 13% Salary profiles link here as they are published.
Audi spends $9m on its two drivers, 9th of 11 teams in the table above. Nico Hülkenberg is paid $7m and Gabriel Bortoleto $2m, so the better-paid driver takes 78% of the pair’s pay, 3.5× the teammate’s.
Hülkenberg is signed to 2027 — already under contract; Audi confirmed its 2027 line-up (Sept 2026). Bortoleto is signed to 2027 — already under contract; Audi confirmed its 2027 line-up (Sept 2026). 2026 is the team’s first season under the Audi name, after racing as Sauber.
Combined pay of both drivers
$9m
Rank 9 of 11 teams
Nico Hülkenberg $7m · 78%
Gabriel Bortoleto $2m · 22% Salary profiles link here as they are published.
Cadillac spends $13m on its two drivers, 7th of 11 teams in the table above. Sergio Pérez is paid $8m and Valtteri Bottas $5m, so the better-paid driver takes 62% of the pair’s pay, 1.6× the teammate’s.
Pérez is signed to 2027 — multi-year deal with the new Cadillac team. Bottas is signed to 2027 — multi-year deal with the new Cadillac team. Cadillac is the grid’s new eleventh team, and both its drivers returned after a season out of Formula 1.
Combined pay of both drivers
$13m
Rank 7 of 11 teams
Sergio Pérez $8m · 62%
Valtteri Bottas $5m · 38% Salary profiles link here as they are published.
Three layers: what the team guarantees, what results add, and what brands pay the driver directly.
Hamilton $100m
Verstappen $86m
Norris $60m Twelve months to May 2026.
The fixed annual fee in the contract, owed whatever happens on track.
$70m $500k–$1mtop to bottom of the 2026 grid
Contract clauses turn results into extra pay, in three types.
Points · Wins · Titles
$10k to €50k
Midfield rate today; Räikkönen at Lotus, 2012–13
About $250k
At a midfield points rate; front-runners’ fees are unpublished
$5m to $10m
Verstappen 2021 to Norris 2025
Endorsements and image rights, paid to the driver by brands, not the team.
$30mHamilton, off track
Add all three and the total runs well past the quoted base.
2×Norris: total ÷ base
The multiple sets RacingNews365’s 2026 base against Forbes’ twelve-month total — two sources, two periods — so it is a guide, not a sum.
Each driver’s 2026 base salary divided two ways: by the 23 Grands Prix on the calendar, and by the championship points scored so far. Points are dated after round 15, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix (26 September 2026), from the official standings.
| Driver | 2026 base salary | Per Grand Prix | Points to date | Per point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Max Verstappen | $70m | $3m | 163 | $429k |
Lewis Hamilton | $60m | $2.6m | 199 | $302k |
Charles Leclerc | $34m | $1.5m | 179 | $190k |
George Russell | $34m | $1.5m | 236 | $144k |
Lando Norris | $30m | $1.3m | 186 | $161k |
Fernando Alonso | $20m | $870k | 3 | $6.7m |
Carlos Sainz | $13m | $565k | 7 | $1.9m |
Oscar Piastri | $13m | $565k | 120 | $108k |
Pierre Gasly | $12m | $522k | 41 | $293k |
Alex Albon | $12m | $522k | 5 | $2.4m |
Lance Stroll | $12m | $522k | 0 | No points yet |
Sergio Pérez | $8m | $348k | 0 | No points yet |
Nico Hülkenberg | $7m | $304k | 7 | $1m |
Esteban Ocon | $7m | $304k | 7 | $1m |
Isack Hadjar | $5m | $217k | 86 | $58k |
Valtteri Bottas | $5m | $217k | 0 | No points yet |
Gabriel Bortoleto | $2m | $87k | 10 | $200k |
Kimi Antonelli | $2m | $87k | 302 | $7k |
Oliver Bearman | $1m | $43k | 20 | $50k |
Liam Lawson | $1m | $43k | 59 | $17k |
Franco Colapinto | $500k–$1m | $22k–$43k | 27 | $19k–$37k |
Arvid Lindblad | $500k–$1m | $22k–$43k | 37 | $14k–$27k |
Points after round 15, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix (26 September 2026). Base salary only; bonuses are not included.
Both cards below update together.
Max Verstappen · per Grand Prix
$3m
2026 base salary ÷ 23 Grands Prix
Max Verstappen · per championship point
$429k
2026 base salary ÷ 163 points, live from the season standings
News & updates
F1 salary news and contract updates by email, only when a figure changes.
Four things set what a team pays. Pick one to see it at work.
$20m $30m
Norris, before and after the 2025 title
A title resets a driver’s price at the next negotiation. After his first, in 2021, Verstappen signed a new Red Bull deal reported at £40m a year; Norris’s estimate rose after his 2025 championship and he signed on to 2030.
$45m $60m
Hamilton, Mercedes 2024 to Ferrari
Salaries are priced against the next-best offer, so demand matters more than lap time. Hamilton’s move to Ferrari lifted his estimate, and his own sponsorship is the largest Forbes ranks, at $30m.
$13m
A sponsor’s fee to Haas for one driver’s 2022 seat
Money a driver brings can shrink or replace a salary. Uralkali paid Haas that fee for Mazepin’s 2022 season; Aston Martin’s accounts show $12.3m paid for Stroll’s services in 2024.
$94m vs $1.5m–$2m
Driver spend: Ferrari and Racing Bulls
A team’s revenue and priorities set its ceiling. Ferrari’s driver spend is 44% of the $215m cost cap, and driver pay sits outside that cap, so a rich team’s money flows to its drivers.
A reserve earns less than the cheapest race seat, by an amount no recognised publication has put a number on. The race grid’s floor is known; the reserve side is not.
| Team | Race seats · base pay | Reserve & test drivers | Reserve pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| | ![]() $94m |
| Not published |
| | ![]() $75m |
| Not published |
| | ![]() $43m |
| Not published |
| | ![]() $36m |
| Not published |
| | ![]() $32m |
| Not published |
| | ![]() $25m |
| Not published |
| | ![]() $13m |
| Not published |
| | ![]() $12.5m–$13m |
| Not published |
| | ![]() $9m | Not yet named | Not published |
| | ![]() $8m |
| Not published |
| | ![]() $1.5m–$2m |
| Not published |
9 of the 18 drivers who raced both seasons are paid more, and none are paid less — on RacingNews365’s estimates for both years.
| Driver | 2025 | 2026 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
George Russell | $15m | $34m | ▲ +$19m | +127% |
Lando Norris | $20m | $30m | ▲ +$10m | +50% |
Lance Stroll | $3m | $12m | ▲ +$9m | +300% |
Oscar Piastri | $6m | $13m | ▲ +$7m | +117% |
Max Verstappen | $65m | $70m | ▲ +$5m | +8% |
Isack Hadjar | $500k–$1m | $5m | ▲ +$4m to +$4.5m | +400% to +900% |
Alex Albon | $8m | $12m | ▲ +$4m | +50% |
Carlos Sainz | $10m | $13m | ▲ +$3m | +30% |
Pierre Gasly | $10m | $12m | ▲ +$2m | +20% |
No change: Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, Nico Hülkenberg, Esteban Ocon, Gabriel Bortoleto, Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman and Liam Lawson. Stroll’s jump is probably the estimate catching up with Aston Martin’s filed accounts, which showed $12.3m for 2024.
George Russell ![]()
$15m $34m
Re-signed for 2026 after his previous Mercedes contract ran out at the end of 2025.
+$19m
▲ +127%
Lando Norris ![]()
$20m $30m
Won the 2025 world championship.
+$10m
▲ +50%
Lance Stroll ![]()
$3m $12m
A revision more than a raise: Aston Martin’s filed accounts show about $12m a year paid for his services in 2024 and 2025, against the earlier $3m estimate.
+$9m
▲ +300%
Oscar Piastri ![]()
$6m $13m
Contract extension signed in March 2025, running to 2028.
+$7m
▲ +117%
Max Verstappen ![]()
$65m $70m
Estimate up from $65m; his extension to 2030 was signed in August 2026.
+$5m
▲ +8%
No driver on both grids took a cut. The falls are drivers who lost a seat or came back on less.
Sergio Pérez ![]()
$14m in 2024, his last race season → $8m
−$6m
▼ −43%
Valtteri Bottas ![]()
$10m in 2024, his last race season → $5m
−$5m
▼ −50%
Yuki Tsunoda
$2m in 2025 → reserve at Red Bull Racing, pay not published
▼ lost seat
Jack Doohan
$500k–$1m in 2025 → reserve at Haas, pay not published
▼ lost seat
Before
$34m
After
up to €50m
Charles Leclerc’s new Ferrari deal, June 2026: about $57m a year reported, length not disclosed. Russell’s re-signing lifted his estimate from $15m to $34m, and Norris’s runs to 2030 after his title.
The grid’s base pay has risen every year since 2023, on RacingNews365’s estimates.
Verstappen $55m $210m
Verstappen $55m $268m
Verstappen $65m $274.5m
Verstappen $70m $349.5m Bars and bold figures: the grid’s total base pay; right: each season’s top earner.
2025 season archive
$274.5m across 20 base salaries
Max Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton
Charles Leclerc
Fernando Alonso
Lando Norris 2024 season archive
$268m across 20 base salaries
Max Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton
Charles Leclerc
Lando Norris
George Russell 2023 season archive
$210m across 20 base salaries
Max Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton
Charles Leclerc
Lando Norris
Carlos Sainz Short answers to the questions asked most, each figure taken from the tables and sources above.
Max Verstappen is the highest-paid F1 driver in 2026, on an estimated base salary of $70m (US dollars) at Red Bull Racing. Lewis Hamilton is second on $60m at Ferrari, matching the ranking table above.
Franco Colapinto (Alpine) and Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) share the lowest 2026 base salary, estimated at $500k–$1m (US dollars). Arvid Lindblad is also the only rookie on the grid.
The average 2026 F1 driver base salary is $15.9m (US dollars), the mean of the 22 estimated figures in the table above. The median is $10m: a handful of very large contracts pull the average well above what a typical seat pays.
The team. A driver signs with the team they race for, and the team pays the salary and any bonuses in that contract; Formula 1 pays prize money to teams, not to drivers. Personal sponsors pay the driver directly, outside the team.
No. Race drivers' pay is excluded from the cost cap by Article D5.1.1(b) of the FIA Financial Regulations, together with their travel and accommodation. The cap on everything else is $215m for 2026, for a season of up to 24 races.
Most F1 driver contracts run from one to four years. Red Bull’s young drivers usually sign one-year deals, while established drivers sign multi-year contracts — Lando Norris’s latest runs to 2030. Many include option years and performance clauses; as George Russell put it, “even if metrics aren't hit, if things are happy then you continue”.
No recognised publication has published what an F1 reserve driver is paid, so there is no sourced figure to quote. What is known is the ceiling: a reserve earns less than the cheapest race seat, which in 2026 is $500k–$1m, and reserve pay sits outside the cost cap just as race drivers' pay does.