Top 10 highest-paid F1 drivers in 2023
F1 drivers are among the world’s highest paid athletes.
Follow Us
Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Hamilton Verstappen and Charles Leclerc
Formula 1 has always been known as one of the most elite sports in the world. With expensive cars, luxurious motorhomes, and top-of-the-line technology that goes into making race cars, F1 is an affair worth millions and millions of dollars. One of the major budgetary spending of F1 teams is the salary given to their star drivers, as without them, all their efforts in the factory are of no use.
The driver isn’t just a championship contender for the teams, they embody the team in front of the world, and keeping their brand ambassadors happy helps them to better represent it in front of the world. Let’s delve into the list of highest paid drivers in the 2023 garage.
Here is the list top 10 highest-paid F1 drivers in 2023
10. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)- $5 million
Spanish racer Fernando Alonso made a surprise exit from Formula 1 at the end of 2018 when he did not have a team to drive for. All his fans agreed that the 2-time Championship winner’s career in this sport deserves better than this. Then, Alpine signed the driver following the exit of Daniel Ricciardo, and in 2023 he left the French outfit to join Aston Martin. He is earning a salary of $5 Million from the team. He was the third-highest earner in 2022.
9. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)- $6 million
French driver Esteban Ocon, who drives for Alpine, has been a consistent performer over the years. He made his F1 debut with Manor in 2016 and since then joined Force India the next season. He spent one year as a Mercedes reserve driver. He joined Alpine, the Renault, in 2021 and scored his first and only win. He has been the team’s best driver since. He is earning $6 million from Alpine.
8. George Russell (Mercedes)- $8 million
George Russell finally got the Mercedes call he had been waiting for years after Bottas’s exit in 2022. He was able to secure his maiden win in 2022 and finished ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton in the Championship table. He is earning a salary of $8 million from the British team.
7. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)- $10 million
During his Mercedes days, Valtteri Bottas proved to be one of the best teammates who drove with eight-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton till 2021. After the end of the season, he signed with Alfa Romeo to drive with Guanyu Zhou till 2025. He is earning a reported salary of $10 million.
6. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)- $10 million
Mexican driver Sergio Perez has been one of the most consistent drivers who often overperforms with the car he has. He joined Red Bull in 2021, replacing Daniel Ricciardo, and is receiving a salary of $10 million. He has been a solid wingman for two times champion Max Verstappen.
5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)- $12 million
Spanish racer Carlos Sainz Jr comes eighth in this list of the highest-paid drivers in Formula 1. Previously a McLaren racer, Sainz signed with Ferrari in 2020. He receives an annual salary of $12 million.
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) -$20 million
British driver Lando Norris is the youngest driver to feature on this list of the highest-paid F1 drivers. Lando started F1 in 2019, and through all these years, he has shown incredible talent, making him one of the most talented youngsters who make up the “new generation” in F1. Norris’ annual salary is $20 million, and he also receives bonuses for getting race wins and podium finishes in the Grand Prix.
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)- $24 million
Charles Leclerc signed a contract extension with Scuderia Ferrari in a multi-year deal in 2019. As per the reports, Leclerc will drive for the Scuderia till the end of 2024, according to the terms of this contract. The Monegasque gets an annual salary of $24 million, plus all the race bonuses he gets upon winning podium places in the GPs.
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)- $35 million
British racer Lewis Hamilton is one of the most successful F1 drivers in the history of this sport. He has repeatedly been featured in the list of the top 10 highest-paid athletes in the world. Lewis Hamilton gets an annual salary of $35 million from Mercedes AMG Petronas, and he also gets added bonuses for every race win he achieves.
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) $55 million
Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen‘s name has been intertwined with the Red Bull Racing. While the 24-year-old started his career in F1 as a driver for Scuderia Toro Rosso, he was promoted to Red Bull in 2016, as a replacement for Daniil Kvyat.
In 2021, Max Verstappen achieved the impossible feat of beating Lewis Hamilton in a nerve-wracking season where the Championship battle went on till the very last race of the year in Abu Dhabi. He won the title again in the 2022 season, dominating rival Charles Leclerc. The Dutchman has a multi-year deal with Red Bull, and he gets an annual salary of $55 million.
Learn more:
Stay Updated!
Riddhi Mondal
(1821 Articles Published)