Source:REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki
[Saba Sports News] According to the latest driver income survey published by Forbes, there have been some changes in the F1 salary rankings for the 2025 season. While the details of driver contracts are typically kept highly confidential, business media have made estimates based on insider information and publicly available data. The results show that Red Bull driver Max Verstappen leads with a total income of $76 million. Of Verstappen’s annual earnings, $65 million comes from his base salary and $11 million from bonuses. Moreover, as a resident of Monaco, he does not have to pay personal income tax. Although Verstappen’s super contract signed in 2022 was originally thought to be worth $55 million per year, Forbes believes his compensation has since been upgraded.In second place is Lewis Hamilton, who just ended a disappointing season. Although his base salary at Ferrari is $70 million—slightly higher than Verstappen’s—his total income for the season is $70.5 million due to only $500,000 in bonuses. Based on season points, Ferrari has to pay over $450,000 for each point Hamilton earns.New world champion Lando Norris ranks third, but his income structure is markedly different from the top two. Norris has a base salary of only $18 million, but following his championship win, his bonuses skyrocketed to $39.5 million, bringing his total income to $57.5 million. Norris’s teammate Oscar Piastri ranks fourth with a total income of $37.5 million, consisting of a $10 million base salary and $27.5 million in bonuses.The rankings illustrate a clear diversification in driver incomes, with some drivers no longer relying solely on base salaries but instead earning substantial income based on their performance throughout the season.