Max Verstappen has emerged from the 2025 F1 season as the highest-paid driver despite missing out on a fifth successive world championship.
The Dutchman ended the year just two points shy of beating Lando Norris to the top of the standings following a tense end to a dramatic season.
While Verstappen is the highest earner on the grid, his base salary does not surpass that of Lewis Hamilton, who endured a challenging maiden F1 campaign with Ferrari.
According to Forbes, Hamilton bagged $70 million in salary, which is higher than Verstappen's - but due to bonuses earned by the Red Bull driver, it places him atop the list.
Norris places third on the list despite ending the season with the world championship in hand.
The Briton leads McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, who like Norris, picked up considerable income through bonuses.
Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari car rounded out the top five.
But who else features in the top 10 list? Find out below!
F1 2025 Top 10 Highest-Paid Drivers
| Driver | Salary | Bonuses | Total earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Verstappen | $65m | $11m | $76m |
| Lewis Hamilton | $70m | $0.5m | $70.5m |
| Lando Norris | $18m | $39.5m | $57.5m |
| Oscar Piastri | $10m | $27.5m | $37.5m |
| Charles Leclerc | $30m | $0 | $30m |
| Fernando Alonso | $24m | $2.5m | $26.5m |
| George Russell | $15m | $11m | $26m |
| Lance Stroll | $12m | $1.5m | $13.5m |
| Carlos Sainz | $10m | $3m | $13m |
| Kimi Antonelli | $5m | $7.5m | $12.5m |
Get the latest F1 news from RacingNews365 directly in your Google feed! Click on the link below and you’ll see your favourite F1 website appearing even more often. That way, you’ll never miss any news, analyses, interviews, or exclusives.
Follow RacingNews365 on GoogleMost read
In this article
Never miss a thing from the Formula 1 season! Add the 2026 F1 schedule to your calendar at the touch of a button. Subscribe below and put the dates and times of every race directly on your PC or smartphone, so you don't miss a second from the new season.
Download the F1 calendar Download the F1 calendar
A variant with just the race and qualifying is also available.
Click here to download it..
Join the conversation!