Max Verstappen’s new contract will see him take home a whopping $55 million in 2023, making him the biggest earner of the entire F1 grid. This figure does not include bonuses for race and title wins, meaning that the Dutchman could potentially earn even more. Following Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton’s $35 million salary puts him in third place, behind Charles Leclerc’s recently increased salary of $36 million.
Verstappen has been with Red Bull since 2015 and has since become the team’s number one driver. His long-term deal with the Austrian team could make him the highest-paid driver in F1 history should he manage to win multiple titles over the next few years.
2023 Formula 1 driver salaries table
| Driver | Team | Salary ($ million) | Contract length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verstappen | Red Bull | 55 | 2028 |
| Hamilton | Mercedes | 35 | 2023 |
| Leclerc | Ferrari | 24 | 2024 |
| Norris | McLaren | 20 | 2025 |
| Sainz | Ferrari | 13 | 2024 |
| Perez | Red Bull | 10 | 2024 |
| Bottas | Alfa Romeo | 10 | 2025 |
| Russell | Mercedes | 9 | 2023 |
| Ocon | Alpine | 6 | 2024+ |
| Alonso | Aston Martin | 5 | 2024+ |
| Gasly | Alpine | 5 | 2024+ |
| Magnussen | Haas | 5 | 2023 |
| Albon | Williams | 3 | 2024+ |
| Stroll | Aston Martin | 2 | Undefined |
| Hulkenberg | Haas | 2 | 2024 |
| De Vries | AlphaTauri | 2 | 2023+ |
| Zhou | Alfa Romeo | 2 | 2023 |
| Piastri | McLaren | 2 | 2024+ |
| Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | 1 | 2023+ |
| Sargeant | Williams | 1 | 2023+ |
Despite the huge salaries on offer to the top drivers, the differences between the grid’s top earners and the rest of the pack is still stark. Even if Hamilton was to take home the same amount as Verstappen, the two drivers would still be taking home a much bigger share of F1’s total earnings than the rest of the grid.
Yuki Tsunoda and Logan Sargeant are F1’s Paupers
At the other end of the scale, Yuki Tsunoda and Logan Sargeant are F1’s paupers in 2023, with both of them set to earn a comparatively paltry $1 million for their season’s efforts. Both Tsunoda and Sargeant will be rookies when they take to the grid in 2021, meaning that they will be some way off the sport’s top earners.
The figures listed are estimates based on consultation with various sources within the F1 paddock and across teams, and could change over time as drivers move teams or renew contracts. However, with the likes of Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc commanding such huge salaries, it’s likely that the top earners will remain in the same positions for some time.
F1’s top earners will be hoping to earn their money back by claiming multiple race and title wins, but for the lower earners, it could be a struggle to make ends meet. It will be interesting to see how the salaries of the grid’s top earners compare to those of the rest of the pack in the coming years.
Source : Formula1.com / racingnews365.com / las-motorsport.com
