SEVEN-TIME Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton is the highest-paid driver on the grid, followed by Max Verstappen.
The Brit, 37, dominated the sport for six of the last eight seasons while driving for Mercedes.
Hamilton became a global superstar in the process, and that comes at a price.
However, there’s a new superstar on the block in Verstappen, who is closing in on Hamilton.
The Dutchman won his first F1 world championship last season, denying Hamilton a record-breaking eighth world title on the final lap of the final race.
Verstappen is also leading the championship this season and looks on course to win back-to-back titles.
READ MORE ON F1
SunSport takes a look at how much F1 drivers are paid, as per research from spotrac.
Lewis Hamilton – £33m
Hamilton is still F1’s biggest star and he is paid as such.
The Merc driver is paid £33million-a-year, making him the highest paid driver on the grid.
However, this season’s results haven’t gone Hamilton’s way and he is yet to record a win.
Most read in Motorsport
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Max Verstappen – £20.6m
Current F1 world champion Verstappen picks up £20.6m-a-year.
And if you’ve been watching F1, especially over the last two seasons, the Dutchman could definitely command a higher wage packet.
Verstappen’s consistency is frightening. He has won eight of the 13 races so far this season and is on course to win a second world championship.
Fernando Alonso – £16.5m
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso comes in at third.
The Alpine driver is paid £16.5m-a-year.
Alonso finds himself tenth in the driver standings this season.
The Spaniard is moving to Aston Martin next season to replace the retiring Sebastian Vettel.
Lando Norris – £16.5m
Lando Norris is one of the most popular drivers on the grid.
The McLaren ace is paid £16.5m-a-year, however, he is yet to return an F1 win.
Norris is sitting seventh in the driver standings, one place below Hamilton.
Sebastian Vettel – £12.3m
Four-time F1 world champion Vettel will be retiring at the end of this season.
That means the £12.3m-a-year he picks up driving for Aston Martin will be his last.
Daniel Ricciardo – £12.3m
Daniel Ricciardo’s move to McLaren didn’t go to plan.
The Aussie struggled to perform and could be on his way out of the team at the end of this season.
Ricciardo, who is paid £12.3m, wants a lump sum to walk away.
Charles Leclerc – £9.9m
Ferrari fork out £9.9m-a-year to have Charles Leclerc drive their gorgeous red car.
The Monegasque national is second in the driver championship and started off the season with a substantial lead.
There are still enough races for Ferrari and Leclerc to iron out their inconsistencies and clinch a world championship.
Valtteri Bottas – £8.2m
Ex-Merc driver Valtteri Bottas chose to drive for Alfa Romeo.
The Finn is paid £8.2m and at times this season has gone toe-to-toe with his former team and team-mate Hamilton.
Lance Stroll – £8.2m
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll is paid a large amount despite sitting 18th in the driver standings.
Stroll earns £8.2m-a-year.
Carlos Sainz – £8.2m
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz earned his first F1 win this season at Silverstone.
The Spaniard is paid £8.2m and is largely considered the No2 driver to Leclerc.
Sergio Perez – £6.6m
Perhaps the biggest surprise is how little Red Bull’s Sergio Perez is paid.
The Mexican is paid £14m less than team-mate Verstappen.
Perez recorded a win at Monaco this season and currently sits third.
Kevin Magnussen – £4.9m
Kevin Magnussen returned to F1 this season to driver for Haas following the axing of Russian Nikita Mazepin.
Magnussen is paid £4.9m-a-year to drive for Haas and in the early stages of the season, he turned in some top-draw performances.
Pierre Gasly – £4.1m
AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly is paid £4.1m.
The Frenchman has 16 points to his name this season.
Esteban Ocon – £4.1m
Esteban Ocon picks up £4.1m-a-year at Alpine.
He recorded a surprise win at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.
And this season, he sits eighth in the driver standings.
George Russell – £4.1m
Merc driver George Russell is considerably low on the list.
The Brit is paid just £4.1m to drive for the once-dominant team.
Russell has performed for Merc this season and sits fourth in the driver standings.
He is even beating team-mate Hamilton, who picks up £33m.
Alexander Albon – £1.6m
Williams pay Albon £1.6m-a-year.
That’s about right considering he sits 19th.
Nicholas Latifi – £825k
Nicholas Latifi is dead last in F1 this season and is paid just £825k.
Zhou Guanyu – £825k
Alfa Romeo pays Zhou Guanyu £825k.
The Chinese driver was involved in a horror crash at the Silverstone Grand Prix.
Mick Schumacher – £825k
Mick Schumacher, son of all-time great Michael, is racing for Haas this season.
He recorded his first points in F1, with Haas’ car performing better than expected.
Schumacher picks up £825k.
Yuki Tsunoda – £619k
AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda is the LOWEST paid driver on the grid, earning just £619k-a-year.
Read More on The Sun
The Japanese driver shows signs of promise at times.
However, his outbursts on the team radio have become a talking point.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
