F1 Driver Salaries: Updated list with incredible new Max Verstappen numbers

F1 Driver Salaries: Updated list with incredible new Max Verstappen numbers

Formula 1’s latest salary figures have put the enormous financial rewards available to the sport’s leading drivers back in the spotlight, with Max Verstappen now standing out after a major update to his reported earnings.

Verstappen has reportedly moved into another financial league following the latest developments surrounding his Red Bull contract. The Dutchman is now being reported as the first Formula 1 driver to reach a remarkable $100 million-plus figure when the reported value of his salary and associated earnings is taken into account.

The new figures arrive shortly after Verstappen committed his future to Red Bull with a contract extension that reportedly keeps him with the team through 2030. The agreement ended months of speculation about his future and represents a significant commitment from both the driver and the championship-winning organisation.

The updated salary rankings show just how far ahead the biggest names in Formula 1 can be financially. Verstappen is followed by Lewis Hamilton, whose reported Ferrari salary stands at around $60 million. Charles Leclerc and George Russell are next on approximately $34 million each, while Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz are both reported to earn around $30 million.

Fernando Alonso remains among the sport’s better-paid drivers, with his reported salary listed at approximately $20 million. Williams driver Alex Albon is estimated at $15 million, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri is reported to receive around $13 million.

Further down the list, Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll are both reportedly on approximately $12 million. Sergio Perez, now competing for Cadillac, is listed at around $8 million in the latest figures.

However, salary figures in Formula 1 should not always be viewed as the complete picture of what a driver earns. Contracts can contain performance-related bonuses linked to race victories, championship positions, podiums and other achievements. Commercial agreements and personal sponsorships can also add substantially to a driver’s overall income.

That distinction is particularly important when considering Verstappen. Earlier salary estimates placed his Red Bull base pay at about $70 million, while other reports have calculated considerably higher overall earnings once bonuses are included.

Hamilton also remains one of Formula 1’s biggest earners. His move to Ferrari for the 2025 season brought one of the sport’s most commercially valuable drivers to its most famous team, helping maintain his position near the top of the salary rankings.

The latest figures underline the enormous financial gap between established championship contenders and drivers at the beginning of their F1 careers. They also demonstrate how performance, experience, marketability and negotiating power can dramatically influence a driver’s contract.

With Verstappen’s reported new numbers now dominating the conversation, the Red Bull star has once again demonstrated his extraordinary value to Formula 1’s biggest teams. His latest deal could set a new benchmark for driver earnings as the sport continues to grow commercially.