FORMULA 1
Max Verstappen leads the ranking, occupying the position for the third year in a row
Published on December 12, 2024 at 2:19 pm
Max Verstappen is the highest paid driver in Formula 1 Credit: Michael Potts F1/Shutterstock.com
Max Verstappen is having a great time, on and off the track. He became four-time Formula 1 champion, and, for the third year in a row, he was the highest-paid driver in the category. The ranking was published by Forbes magazine.
The Red Bull driver received an annual salary worth a record 60 million dollars (around R$363 million, at current prices) in 2024, according to the publication. In addition, Verstappen also earned 15 million dollars (R$91 million) in bonuses during the season – together, the amounts reach R$454 million. The numbers are higher than the amount the Dutchman took last year – R$423 million, at the current price.
Second on the list is Lewis Hamilton, from Mercedes, who received 55 million dollars (around R$333 million) in salary. The bonus, however, was much smaller than Verstappen’s: R$12 million. As a result, he earned around R$108.9 million less than his Red Bull opponent.
Forbes points out, however, that the Briton will transfer to Ferrari in 2025, and the new contract will make the seven-time champion once again the highest paid in the category.
Next, the list features another representative from the United Kingdom: Lando Norris, from McLaren, who jumped from sixth place to third place. Runner-up in Formula 1 in 2024, he receives a lower salary than other drivers in the category (R$ 73 million), but closes the top 3 in total amount for having won the largest amount in bonuses: 23 million dollars ( R$ 139 million).
The ranking with the top ten still includes Fernando Alonso, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Sergio Pérez, Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly.
1st: Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) – annual salary: R$363 million; bonus: R$91 million; total: R$454 million
2nd: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – annual salary: R$333 million; bonus: R$12 million; total: R$345 million
3rd: Lando Norris (McLaren) – annual salary: R$73 million; bonus: R$139 million; total: R$212 million
4th: Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – annual salary: R$145 million; bonus: R$21 million; total: R$166 million
5th: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – annual salary: R$91 million; bonus: R$73 million; total: R$164 million
6th: George Russell (Mercedes) – annual salary: R$91 million; bonus: R$48 million; total: R$139 million
7th: Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – annual salary: R$30 million; bonus: R$103 million; total: R$133 million
8th: Sergio Pérez (Red Bull Racing) – annual salary: R$73 million; bonus: R$45 million; total: R$118 million
9th: Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – annual salary: R$61 million; bonus: R$54 million; total: R$115 million
10th: Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – annual salary: R$61 million; bonus: R$12 million; total: R$73 million
