A Grid Full of Financial Extremes
Formula 1 salaries vary enormously across the 2026 grid, from the sport’s biggest stars earning tens of millions annually to rookies on comparatively modest entry-level deals.
The Top Earners
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) — reportedly around $70 million, the highest base salary on the grid
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) — reportedly around $60 million
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and George Russell (Mercedes) — both reportedly around $34 million
- Lando Norris (McLaren) — reportedly around $30 million
Why the Gap Is So Large
Base salaries reflect a driver’s championship pedigree and market value, but total compensation often grows further through performance bonuses tied to race results and championship position, meaning a driver’s final annual earnings can look very different from their contracted base figure.
The Middle and Lower Tiers
Drivers outside the top handful, including several featured in our full 2026 grid breakdown, typically earn between $2 million and $20 million annually. Even at the entry level, minimum driver compensation has climbed in recent years, with rookie salaries generally starting around $1 million.
The Numbers Behind the Grid
Combined, the 2026 grid’s driver payroll is estimated at roughly $324 million, reportedly the highest total in Formula 1 history. The average salary across all drivers sits around $14.7 million, though that figure is heavily skewed by the highest earners; the median salary for a typical mid-field driver is closer to $8 million.
Why Salaries Keep Climbing
Formula 1’s commercial growth in recent years, driven partly by expanding global audiences and new races such as those covered in our 2026 calendar guide, has pushed team budgets and driver compensation to record levels.
Conclusion
From nine-figure combined earners at the top to seven-figure rookie deals at the bottom, F1 salaries reflect the sport’s status as one of the highest-paying arenas in global sport, with the gap between grid extremes as wide as ever in 2026.