Ferrari first team to exceed €100M in driver salaries with new Leclerc deal

Charles Leclerc's contract extension at Ferrari has quietly reset the financial ceiling in Formula 1. The Scuderia is now the first team in history to cross the €100 million mark in combined driver salaries, according to industry estimates.

Why it matters:

Ferrari has always spent big, but this milestone underscores how aggressively the team is investing in its driver lineup. With Lewis Hamilton on an estimated €60M per year and Leclerc’s new deal reportedly worth around €50M annually, Maranello is outspending every rival by a wide margin — and the gap is growing.

The details:

• Ferrari confirmed Leclerc's long-term commitment but did not disclose financial terms or contract length.
• Leclerc's previous salary was estimated at €34M per year. The new deal is believed to push his earnings close to €50M.
• Combined with Hamilton's €60M, Ferrari's driver payroll would total roughly €110M — an F1 record.
• Context: Red Bull sits second on the unofficial salary leaderboard with approximately €75M in combined driver pay, nearly all of which goes to Max Verstappen (≈€70M).
• The figures remain educated guesses, as F1 teams rarely publish exact salary numbers.

What's next:

This deal signals Ferrari's confidence in Leclerc as its long-term cornerstone alongside Hamilton. The financial commitment also highlights the Scuderia's determination to end its championship drought. With the 2026 regulation overhaul approaching, Ferrari is betting its massive spending on drivers will be matched by performance on track — and the pressure to deliver has never been higher.