Max Verstappen Tops F1 Driver Salary List, Beating Hamilton and Norris

Max Verstappen is the highest-paid driver on the Formula 1 grid, with Forbes estimating his 2025 earnings at $76 million. Lewis Hamilton follows in second place with $70.5 million from Ferrari, while newly crowned world champion Lando Norris's income was significantly boosted by performance bonuses, securing him third place on the financial podium.

Why it matters:

Driver salaries and bonuses are a direct reflection of market value, performance, and negotiating power within the sport. The structure of these deals—whether heavily weighted toward base salary or performance bonuses—reveals team strategies and driver leverage, highlighting the immense financial rewards at the pinnacle of motorsport.

The details:

• Verstappen's Mega-Deal: The Red Bull driver's estimated $76 million income comprises a $65 million base salary and $11 million in bonuses. His long-term contract, signed in 2022, is a key factor in his financial dominance.
• Hamilton's High Base, Low Bonus: Hamilton's reported $70.5 million from Ferrari comes almost entirely from a $70 million base salary, with only $0.5 million earned in bonuses for the 2025 season.
• Norris's Bonus Bonanza: The McLaren champion's third-place earnings of $57.5 million showcase a different model. While his base salary was a relatively modest $18 million, a massive $39.5 million in performance bonuses propelled his total income, rewarding his title-winning campaign.
• The Rest of the Top Ten: Oscar Piastri ($37.5m) and Charles Leclerc ($30m) round out the top five. The list continues with Fernando Alonso ($26.5m), George Russell ($26m), Lance Stroll ($13.5m), Carlos Sainz ($13m), and Kimi Antonelli ($12.5m).

By the numbers:

A cost-per-point analysis reveals stark differences in value. Ferrari paid approximately $451,923 for each point Hamilton scored in 2025. In contrast, Red Bull paid about $180,522 per point for Verstappen, illustrating the champion's efficiency from a team investment perspective.

What's next:

With a new world champion crowned, contract negotiations and salary adjustments are expected. Lando Norris, having vastly outperformed his current contract's base salary structure, is in a powerful position to secure a significant pay rise from McLaren. Similarly, other drivers may seek to renegotiate terms to better reflect their market value and recent performances, potentially reshaping next year's financial rankings.