F1 Driver Salaries 2026: Full Ranking and Why the Numbers Differ
In short: Max Verstappen is the highest-paid F1 driver of 2026 on every list we checked, followed by Lewis Hamilton. Teams do not publish contracts, so every figure below is a press estimate of base pay, and bonuses and personal sponsorships can change the picture a lot. Checked against the sources named below on 2026-10-12.
2026 F1 driver salary ranking (base salary, estimated)
The ranking follows RacingNews365's 2026 salary list, which is a snapshot of estimated annual base pay from paddock sources. It excludes team and performance bonuses and personal sponsorship deals.
| Rank | Driver | Team | Estimated salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | $70 million |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | $60 million |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | $34 million |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | $34 million |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | $30 million |
| 6 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | $20 million |
| 7 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | $13 million |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | $13 million |
| 9 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | $12 million |
| 9 | Alex Albon | Williams | $12 million |
At the bottom of the grid, Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) is listed at about $2 million, and Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto at roughly $1 million or less.
Verstappen's new deal changes the top of the list
On 20 August 2026 Red Bull and Verstappen announced that he will stay through the 2030 season, ending speculation about a move. His previous contract ran to 2028.
The pay terms were not officially disclosed. GPFans reports a new base salary of 92 million euros per season (about $107 million), with bonus clauses that could lift the total to 115 million euros, citing Swiss insider Marc Limacher. Treat that as an unconfirmed report. If it is accurate, the gap between Verstappen and the rest of the grid widens considerably from the $70 million in the table above.
Why salary figures differ between sources
F1 salary articles rarely agree because contracts are private. Three different things get mixed together:
- Base salary from the contract
- Total earnings, including race-performance bonuses
- Estimates that add loyalty bonuses, options and special clauses, plus sponsorship income
A good example is Hamilton. RacingNews365 puts his 2026 base pay at $60 million but says bonuses and sponsorships take his yearly income to around $100 million. PlanetF1 reports his base pay differently, at about $70 million. When you search "who earns more," make sure the source is comparing the same thing.
For 2025, Forbes estimated Verstappen's on-track income at about $76 million, made up of a $65 million salary package and around $11 million in performance bonuses.
Driver by driver
Max Verstappen (Red Bull, Netherlands, 29)
The reference point for F1 pay. Estimates for 2026 base pay start at $70 million, and the reported new deal to 2030 may be far higher. Verstappen has four world titles (2021 to 2024) and 71 wins as of August 2026.
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari, Britain, 41)
Hamilton's base salary is about $60 million at Ferrari on most lists, which makes him the second-highest paid driver. His total income, including bonuses and sponsorships, is often put near $100 million, but that figure is an estimate and includes money earned away from the track.
Lando Norris (McLaren, Britain, 26)
Norris won the 2025 drivers' championship. His 2026 base pay is estimated at $30 million, fifth on the list. Champions usually earn performance bonuses on top of base pay and have extra leverage in contract talks, but no reliable public number exists for his bonus, so we do not give one.
Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes, Italy, 20)
Antonelli's base salary is estimated at only about $2 million, far below the top of the grid, because he is early in his career. Rookie deals are often built around bonuses and options, so his real earnings could be higher than the base figure suggests, but there is no reliable public number to quote.
Why Leclerc and Russell rank above Norris
The table can look odd: Leclerc and Russell at $34 million, Norris at $30 million. It reflects contract base pay, not total income. Leclerc and Russell are on high contractual salaries, while a champion like Norris can close the gap through bonuses. Read the list as a base-pay ranking, not a ranking of everything a driver earns.
Quick answers
- Who is the highest-paid F1 driver in 2026? Max Verstappen, at an estimated $70 million base before his new contract, and possibly far more under it.
- How much does Lewis Hamilton earn? About $60 million base at Ferrari, around $100 million in total with bonuses and sponsorships by some estimates.
- How much does Lando Norris earn? An estimated $30 million base at McLaren, plus bonuses.
- How much does Kimi Antonelli earn? An estimated $2 million base at Mercedes.
Sources and limits
Figures come from RacingNews365 (2026 base pay), GPFans (Verstappen extension report), PlanetF1 and Forbes (2025 earnings). None of these are official team disclosures, and numbers can change with new contracts. Prices converted from euros are the outlets' own conversions.