With Formula 1 rolling to Imola this weekend for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the salaries of those fighting for the title of world champion can now be announced.
Lewis Hamilton is the reigning champion and won the Bahrain Grand Prix at the opening of the season after battling Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
The two rivals are likely to be the two drivers most likely to take the lead in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.
Not only on the track does the Mercedes man have the Dutchman as his closest competitor, but also the best-paid drivers on the grid.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are the highest paid drivers on the grid
(Image: PA)
This list of racing fans is made up of the drivers’ base salaries, though they can earn raise bonuses by achieving performance-related goals.
Hamilton signed a one-year deal to stay with the Silver Arrows ahead of the 2021 season, though his salary fell from £ 28.70m a year to £ 21.90m.
The 23-year-old Verstappen meanwhile signed his current deal at the beginning of 2020 by dedicating his future to Red Bull and taking home £ 18.27 million a year.
The Dutchman has been given the best chance yet to fight for the world title after a rule change and is one of the most exciting young talents on the grid.
The seven-time world champion Hamilton is the highest-paid Formula 1 driver
(Image: Getty Images)
Next we switch from one of the younger drivers on the grid to one of the oldest. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso earns £ 14.60 million after returning to the sport with Alpine.
Another multiple world champion sits right behind Alonso. Sebastian Vettel signs a £ 10.90 million deal to move from Ferrari to Aston Martin.
Another driver belongs to Vettel who changed teams before 2021. Daniel Ricciardo switched from Renault to McLaren.
After an impressive debut season, Charles Leclerc received a contract extension in December 2019, which also earned him a raise.
Verstappen is one of the most exciting talents on the grid
(Image: AFP / Getty Images)
This rise took him before the second placed in the world championship, Valtteri Bottas, who receives almost 2 million euros less than the Ferrari man.
Despite being a former champion, it might come as a surprise that Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen is one of the eight highest paid drivers on the grid.
In fact, he’s paid more for this season than Ferrari’s second driver Carlos Sainz, who moved from McLaren to Scuderia in 2021.
The top 10 is rounded off by Aston Martins Lance Stroll, who has a salary level similar to Sainz.
Charles Leclerc received a bumper deal from Ferrari in December 2019
(Image: PA)
Stroll’s teammate last season was Sergio Perez, who was shockingly dumped in Vettel’s favor before securing a ride with Red Bull.
A driver who used to have this second place in the Austrian team is Pierre Gasly, who earns a little less at Alpha Tauri than Perez.
Lando Norris, who is in his third season with McLaren, has a pay grade similar to Gasly, who won the Italian Grand Prix last season.
Aston Martin’s teammates, Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll, are both among the top 10 top earners
The last rider to earn more than £ 1 million is Esteban Ocon, who is with Alpine in the final year of his contract.
This means that six drivers, including George Russell and rookies Mick Schumacher and Yuki Tsunoda, get paid the worst on the grid.
The annual earnings of the 2021 F1 drivers (base salaries)
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes: £ 21.9 million
2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull: £ 18.27 million
3. Fernando Alonso, Alpine: £ 14.6 million
4. Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin: £ 10.9 million
5. Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren: £ 10.9 million
Daniel Ricciardo joined McLaren for the 2021 season
6. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari: £ 8.76 million
7. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes: £ 7.3 million
8. Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo: £ 7.3 million
9. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari: £ 7.3 million
10. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin: £ 7.3 million
Lando Norris is entering his third season at McLaren
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
11. Sergio Perez, Red Bull: £ 5.8 million
12. Pierre Gasly, Alpha Tauri: £ 3.6 million
13. Lando Norris, McLaren: £ 3.6 million
14. Esteban Ocon, Alpine: £ 3.6 million
15. George Russell, Williams: £ 730,800
George Russell makes less than £ 1 million a year at Williams
(Image: James Moy Photography / PA Images)
16. Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo: £ 730,800
17. Mick Schumacher, Haas: £ 730,800
18. Nikita Mazepin, Haas: £ 730,800
19. Nicholas Latifi, Williams: £ 730,800
20.Yuki Tsunoda, Alpha Tauri: £ 364,900
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