MAX VERSTAPPEN and Lewis Hamilton top the list of Formula One’s highest earners – as they prepare for another Championship battle.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton is preparing to make his Ferrari debut after a shock switch from Mercedes.
Hamilton will be behind the wheel for the first time at the season opener in Melbourne on March 16.
The 40-year-old has penned a two-year deal with the Italian giants.
And it sees him earning a staggering £48million ($60m) as he targets an eighth world crown.
Reigning champion Verstappen will pocket the most cash in 2025 – just as he did last year.
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The Dutchman is given £52m-a-year ($65m) by Red Bull, with his current deal running for a further three seasons.
In sharp contrast, Verstappen’s new teammate Liam Lawson, 23, will pocket just £800,000 ($1m)
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc bags £27m ($34m), over £20m less than new team-mate Hamilton.
While George Russell, now the top dog at Mercedes, will earn a cool £12m ($15m).
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Lando Norris had a season to remember in 2024 with four wins and a second-placed overall finish.
His lucrative deal with McLaren runs until next year – and he currently bags £16m ($20m) in annual salary.
At the other end of the spectrum, both Jack Doohan of Alpine and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar will take home £700,000 ($850k) this year.
And Lance Stroll’s open contract with Aston Martin sees the 26-year-old earn £2.3m ($3m) each season.
Verstappen’s dominance of the sport in recent years has seen him win four consecutive titles.
He won nine races last year – the least of any of the last four seasons.
Verstappen admitted: “Last year has been challenging at times.
“Of course, we had a lot of good moments, of course, also some tough moments.
“I hope that we can be, let’s say, a little bit more stable and a little bit more all-round throughout the season.”
Ex-F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone recently gave his opinion on whether Hamilton could challenge Verstappen in his Ferrari.
And the 94-year-old pulled no punches with his response.
Ecclestone told The Telegraph: “Hamilton won’t last [two years].
F1 2025 grid
Here are the confirmed driver line ups for the F1 2025 season:
Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli
McLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll
Williams: Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz
Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto
Alpine: Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan
RB: Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar
Haas: Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon
“Piero Ferrari, who has taken him there, still thinks they’ve done the right thing.
“I hope they have. I hope they haven’t just jumped in and end up wishing they hadn’t.”
Verstappen and Hamilton will join the rest of the F1 drivers for a special event on February 18.
For the first time in the sport’s history, all ten teams are coming together to unveil their new liveries.
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The 2025 F1 1 season begins with a double-header, starting with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne on March 16.
Just a week later, Shanghai will host the Chinese Grand Prix on March 23.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
