#1 — Max Verstappen: the highest-paid driver on the grid
And here's the top: Max Verstappen, of Red Bull. His base salary is estimated between $65 and 70 million (some sources cite a contract worth up to $76 million), and with performance bonuses he becomes the highest-paid driver on the grid — a position he took from Hamilton in 2022.
Why is he worth so much? Because he delivers results like no one else: he won 61 of 114 races over the last five years, with a record of eight wins in 2025 alone. And, like the others, his real income goes beyond: sponsorships and one of the strongest personal brands in the sport fatten the number. His contract runs until 2028.
Put it all together and the picture is clear. An F1 driver "really earns" much more than the base salary: it adds win bonuses, personal sponsorships, and their own businesses. At the top, that means close to $100 million a year for Hamilton and Verstappen. At the bottom of the grid, $500,000 for a rookie. It's one of the biggest income inequalities in any sport — 20 people on the same grid, with salaries varying by up to 140 times. F1 is glamour and speed, but the money in it runs on two very different tracks.
