In 2025, Formula 1 crowned a new world champion, but financially, everything remained the same. In a sport where status, experience, and market value carry significant weight, a title does not automatically equate to earnings. This is evident from the annual Forbes list. The business magazine once again ranked the ten highest-paid F1 drivers, with Max Verstappen‘s salary indeed securing him the top spot.
The ten highest-paid drivers reportedly earned a combined total of approximately $363 million in salaries and bonuses during the 2025 season, equivalent to over €300 million. This represents a 15 percent increase from 2024 and a staggering 72 percent more than the first list in 2021. These figures underscore the explosive growth of the sport. With the increasing popularity and global attention for Formula 1, more and more money is circulating in the paddock.
Despite Lando Norris being crowned world champion with McLaren, he was not the highest earner of the year. That honor went to Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver, who fell just two points short of the title after an impressive comeback, was estimated to have earned $65 million in salary, supplemented with $11 million in performance bonuses. This brought his total income for 2025 to an estimated $76 million.
Verstappen versus Hamilton
Directly behind Verstappen is Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion made his much-discussed move to Ferrari in 2025 and reportedly pocketed $70.5 million, largely thanks to a sky-high base salary of $70 million. However, the sporting results were lacking. Aside from a single sprint victory, Hamilton did not bring any trophies to Maranello this year. Yet, his position on the list underscores a harsh reality: experience, star status, and global appeal carry significant weight. In fact, Hamilton earned even more than Verstappen the previous year.World Champion Lando Norris had to settle for third place on the earnings list. His total income was estimated at $57.5 million, composed of a base salary of $18 million and a whopping $39.5 million in bonuses tied to his successes on the track. McLaren’s dominance thus also translated into substantial financial rewards. The same applies to teammate Oscar Piastri, who was able to add approximately $37.5 million to his account. The top five was completed by Charles Leclerc, who, thanks to a recent contract extension with Ferrari, came in at around $30 million.
F1 Drivers’ Salaries
| Driver | Total Salary | Salary | Bonuses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Verstappen | $76 million | $65 million | $11 million |
| Lewis Hamilton | $70.5 million | $70 million | $0.5 million |
| Lando Norris | $57.5 million | $18 million | $39.5 million |
| Oscar Piastri | $37.5 million | $10 million | $27.5 million |
| Charles Leclerc | $30 million | $30 million | n/a |
| Fernando Alonso | $25.5 million | $24 million | $2.5 million |
| George Russell | $26 million | $15 million | $11 million |
| Lance Stroll | $13.5 million | $12 million | $1.5 million |
| Carlos Sainz | $13 million | $10 million | $3 million |
| Kimi Antonelli | $12.5 million | $5 million | $7.5 million |
