Formula 1, as it is known, is a very expensive sport. Most pilots jump into the kart at the age of 4 and start training on the go kart tracks. Of course, all these expenses come out of the pockets of the families until they reach a certain level. Then again, many expenses are waiting for the pilot candidates selected for the youth driver programs of the teams. In this process, many pilot candidates struggle with finding sponsors.
When the drivers find themselves a seat in F1, the color changes. This time, the teams open their mouths for the pilots. Mercedes pays $55 million annually for its two drivers, Red Bull $48 million and Ferrari $25 million. Williams and Haas, on the other hand, draw attention with their total salary of $2 million. So how much does each pilot earn?
Most wins: Lewis Hamilton
Seven-time world champion 36-year-old British driver Lewis Hamilton, who spent his 9th season in Mercedes, has a contract with the team until 2023. Sir Lewis Hamilton, who was awarded the title of Sir for his success in F1, renewed his contract with his team in July of this year. Under this contract, Hamilton will earn a net worth of $45 million annually. In addition, with annual earnings, Hamilton is the 8th highest-paid athlete in the world.
Hamilton’s rival with his salary: Max Verstappen
Red Bull’s 24-year-old Dutch young driver Max Verstappen, who has been in a tight rivalry with Lewis Hamilton this season and is fighting for his first championship, has a contract with the team until 2023. Under this contract, Verstappen earns $40 million annually from Red Bull.
The abyss begins: Ricciardo, Leclerc, Vettel
In Formula 1, after Hamilton and Verstappen, a serious decrease is observed in pilot salaries. So much so that the three highest-paid drivers after Verstappen are; McLaren’s Daniel Riccardo, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Aston Martin’s 4-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. All three pilots earn $15 million annually.
Stepson Bottas; Sainz, Stroll, Räikkönen and Alonso
Hamilton earns 45 million dollars annually from Mercedes; His teammate, Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas, with whom he is now slowly saying goodbye, earns 10 million dollars annually. Just like Bottas we will watch in Alfa Romeo next season; Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, Alfa Romeo’s old wolf Kimi Räikkönen and Alpine’s Fernando Alonso also earn $10 million a year.
Perez, Norris and others
Mexican driver Sergio Perez, or Checo for short, is Verstappen’s teammate and has not yet achieved the exit he is looking for, but who nevertheless closed a new contract from Red Bull; He earns $8 million a year. Perez is followed by Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly with an annual salary of $5 million each, and McLaren’s British driver Lando Norris, who had a great season this year.
Mick, son of Formula 1 legendary driver Michael Schumacher, and Russian rookie Nikita Mazepin, both from Haas team; Italian pilot Antonio Giovinazzi from Alfa Romeo; Nicholas Latifi and Mr. Saturday George Russell, whom we will watch as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate at Mercedes next season; They earn $1 million a year from Williams. The lowest salary in Formula 1 is Japanese Yuki Tsunoda, who has problems with English and attracts attention with the messages he sends over the radio. Tsunoda earns $500,000 annually from the team.