Ultimate Formula 1 drivers rich list as Max Verstappen pulls clear of Lewis Hamilton with record-breaking salary

IT’S the most expensive sport in the world, so it’s no surprise top Formula 1 drivers boast eye-watering salaries.

The likes of Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris certainly enjoy a life in the fast line – with supercar collections, huge mansions and beautiful women.

Max Verstappen was crowned a four-time world champ in Las Vegas last month

George Russell with stunning girlfriend Carmen Montero Mundt

Sunday saw the end of the 2024 season and Hamilton‘s final race with Mercedes as he heads to childhood heroes Ferrari in the New Year.

But all the drama has come away from the track, with Verstappen and Russell at war over an incident at the penultimate race of the campaign in Qatar on December 1.

The Red Bull driver accused Russell of being “two-faced” with the stewards, while the Brit threw out “bullying” accusations back.

Ahead of the off-season, we reveal the drivers at the top of the rich list – as the top 10 earners collected an estimated £248m combined.

10) PIERRE GASLY £9M

Pierre comes from a family heavily involved in motorsports

Pierre, 28, who made his debut in 2017, drives for Alpine and comes from a family heavily involved in motorsports.

His salary was bumped up to £8m this season, with £1m in bonuses as he signed a contract extension in June to keep him with team until 2026.

Pierre’s brand partnerships include headphone brand Blomm and Berger, The Grid, Destination Grand Prix, and Crypto Gaming.

He is said to be dating Italian Caterina Masetti Zannini, who shares many of her lavish trips with Pierre on Instagram.

9) CARLOS SAINZ £15M

Sainz has been replaced by Hamilton after a great final season with Ferrari

The Spanish ace was paid a reported £8m a year by Ferrari, who he joined in 2021 after successful stints with Renault and McLaren.

And he is promised £9m in performance related bonuses, which he surely wrapped up with 27 podium finishes in 2024.

But the 30-year-old has joined Williams after being replaced by Lewis Hamilton.

Endorsements include Playstation, lager brand Estrella and German helmet manufacturer Schuberth.

Away from the track he still feels the need for speed and his luxury car collection includes a McLaren 720S worth £800k and a £750K Ferrari 812.

Time is of the essence too – with a high end watch collection worth millions, including a Roger Dubuis timepiece worth USD £205,000 and a Franck Muller watch worth £200,000.

8) SERGIO PEREZ £15.3M

Sergio’s future at Red Bull is under threat

Sergio, 34, may not be the highest-paid driver on the grid, but he’s been amassing an impressive fortune since his debut in 2011.

His estimated £62.4million net worth, which includes an £9.4million salary from Red Bull, makes him one of the richest athletes in the world.

The Mexican signed a two-year contract extension in June, but he was nowhere near competitive for the rest of the season, slipping to eighth in the standings just a year after he finished as the runner-up to team-mate Verstappen.

This has left his Red Bull future under threat.

Checo reportedly owns a multi-million dollar 15,000-square-foot mansion in Mexico and supercars including a Bugatti Chiron, which cost around £2million.

7) OSCAR PIASTRI £17M

Oscar Piastri has backed up his rookie season this year

The 23-year-old is one the babies on the track, having come through the Renault Sports Academy and started his F1 career in 2021.

As such, he actually earns LESS than the aforementioned drivers in salary (£5m) – but his staggering £13m in bonuses sees him climb the list.

After a strong rookie season in 2023, Piastri was even better this year, claiming the first two Grand Prix victories of his career in Hungary and Azerbaijan and finishing fourth in the driver standings.

He is set to race at least two more years for McLaren after signing a contract extension in September 2023, just days before he secured his first podium finish.

The future is bright to the Aussie as he helped McLaren clinch their first Constructors’ Championship in 26 years.

6) GEORGE RUSSELL £18M

George Russel’s has shot up through the ranks in recent years

Russell is now the No1 driver at Mercedes after Hamilton‘s exit – but he’s internal dominance this year had proved that anyway – as he signed an extension in August 2023.

He now bags £11.7million a year from Mercedes, with a reported £7million in bonuses.

Teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli, 18, will step into Hamilton‘s iconic shoes.

Russell finished sixth in the standings and won two races, missing a third victory only because of a disqualification at Spa.

5) CHARLES LECLERC £21M

Getty

The Frenchman earns £11.7m in salary at Ferrari as he welcomes Hamilton[/caption]

Leclerc, who finished third in the driver standings this year, will welcome Hamilton to Ferrari next season.

The Frenchman earns £11.7m in salary and his bonuses almost match that at £10m.

He was part of another memorable tandem at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The 27-year-old took part in Friday’s practice session alongside his 24-year-old brother, Arthur—a Ferrari development driver—making them the first siblings ever to drive in F1 as teammates.

4) FERNANDO ALONSO £21M

The 42-year-old owns homes in Oxford and Switzerland

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, 42, signed a new deal with Aston Martin in 2023 after finishing fourth in the standings.

The Spanish star earns £18million in salary, while performance add-ons amount to around £3million.

Unsurprisingly, Alonso likes his cars – he owns over 300 and some have even been put on display in the Fernando Alonso Sports Complex in Spain.

The racer owns homes in Oxford and Switzerland, as well as an apartment in a 52-storey building in Dubai.

3) LANDO NORRIS £27M

After claiming P1 in the final race at Abu Dhabi, Norris declared: ‘Next year is my year’

Norris wasn’t quite able to overtake Verstappen for the drivers’ title, but achieved 13 podium finishes this year.

He did, however, take home a reported £9.4million in wages, and surely earned his whopping £18m in bonuses, as McLaren landed an unexpected constructors’ championship.

Lando was born into wealth through dad Adam – who amassed a £205million fortune – and mum Cisca, from Belgium.

After claiming P1 in the final race at Abu Dhabi on Sunday, Norris declared: “Next year is my year”.

2) LEWIS HAMILTON £45M

Lewis Hamilton used to earn the most on the grid

After years of dominance at Mercedes, Hamilton was the highest-paid driver in F1 – his contract with netted him £43million each year, and he’s estimated to be worth £270.9million.

That figure is set to soar far higher, too, after it was revealed he will join the Scuderia in 2025 in a shock deal worth £100million.

But the wage gulf between Hamilton and Verstappen has expanded after the changing of the guard moment in 2021.

The seven-time world champion has numerous endorsement deals with the likes of Puma, Sony, Police, and Tommy Hilfiger.

Hertfordshire-born Lewis, 39, is said to be raking in an additional £16.6million from these sponsorship deals.

He also owns a £49.1million penthouse in New York, according to GQ, and a £19.1million six-bedroom home in London.

1) MAX VERSTAPPEN £59M

Verstappen is F1’s highest-paid driver on the track

Understandably, for the third straight year, Verstappen is F1’s highest-paid driver on the track.

With estimated 2024 earnings of £59million, including a series-record £47million in salary to go with £12million in performance bonuses.

The Dutchman had to wait until the season’s third-to-last Grand Prix, in Las Vegas, to lock up the championship, four races later than when he clinched in 2023.

As he’s only 27, industry experts predict his estimated £165million fortune will increase in the coming years.

Last week, the Red Bull No.1 announced he is expecting a baby with partner Kelly Piquet, daughter of three-time F1 champ Nelson Piquet.

The F1 driver announced the happy news with this picture on social media