MAX VERSTAPPEN is the highest-earning F1 driver – beating Lewis Hamilton by a staggering £17million.
The Red Bull driver is the dominant force in F1 after winning ten consecutive races, and his salary reflects that.
Verstappen, 25, is on course to claim his third successive championship and he is now one of the highest-earning sportsmen in the world.
He is paid an eye-watering annual salary of £45m by Red Bull.
Hamilton is the next highest-paid F1 star but comes in quite far behind at £28m-a-year.
Verstappen is paid more than five times that of his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.
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Hamilton also earns significantly than his partner, George Russell, who is the eighth on the list of top salaries.
The Brit collects around £6.5m a year from Mercedes but could pick up a more lucrative deal when it comes to renewing after impressing since his 2022 arrival.
Rounding off the top three is Charles Leclerc at £20m-a-year.
Ferrari’s No1 has been linked to Red Bull with both him and Perez out of contract at the end of the year.
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Red Bull are believed to be keen but he could prove to be quite an expensive option, with their other target Lando Norris possibly available for a lower salary.
Norris has an annual wage of £16m, and is one of only four drivers to break the £10m barrier.
Perez and Russell are joined in the next band of drivers to make £5m or more which also includes Carlos Sainz, Valterri Bottas and Esteban Ocon.
Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly fall just short at £4m, while Yuki Tsunoda and Red Bull reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo earn less than £1m, as does Williams’ Logan Sergeant.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
