10 highest paid Formula One racers of 2022: from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, to Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell and Ferrari speedsters Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc
The Formula One season recently came to a close with another exciting finish in Abu Dhabi, but Red Bull’s speed racer Max Verstappen had already bagged the championship in Japan last month. The Belgian-Dutch national secured his second straight World Championship title during the 18th round, as per the official Formula One website.
10. George Russell – US$10 million
The 24-year-old has taken a leap in the races by finishing fourth overall in the final standings, making him the top Mercedes driver for the year, ahead of household name Lewis Hamilton.
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9. Lando Norris – US$11 million
McLaren’s Lando Norris is slated to make US$11 million after he secured a long-term deal with the race team, per Forbes. Crash once dubbed the British up-and-comer one of the sport’s brightest hopes.
The 23-year-old racer did well, finishing in seventh place overall with 122 points.
8. Carlos Sainz – US$15 million
Ferrari’s first appearance on this list is made by none other than Spanish racer Carlos Sainz.
According to Forbes, the 28-year-old son of double World Rally champion Carlos Sainz Sr. will be making a combined US$15 million in salary and bonuses this year, with reports stating that Sainz has inked his partnership with Ferrari until 2024.
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7. Daniel Ricciardo – US$17 million
When he’s not racing, the 33-year-old is also known for starring in the Netflix docuseries Formula 1: Drive to Survive. Forbes also reported that he is in talks with Hulu for another series focused on F1.
6. Sebastian Vettel – US$17 million
Vettel also exits with four World Championships under his belt, including a four-peat from 2010 to 2013.
5. Charles Leclerc – US$23 million
In the recently concluded season, Charles Leclerc finished in second place behind eventual champion Verstappen. In this list, he finishes in fifth place with his whopping US$23 million salary and bonuses deal, as per Forbes.
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4. Sergio Pérez – US$26 million
Leclerc edged out Sergio Pérez by three points in the final standings, but the Mexican star makes US$3 million more than the Ferrari stud.
In a Players’ Tribune piece, the 32-year-old shared that Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim funded his F1 ambitions when he was younger.
3. Fernando Alonso – US$30 million
According to Forbes, Spaniard Fernando Alonso made an eye-popping US$30 million this season. He only finished ninth at the end of the season, behind Alpine teammate Esteban Ocon, but it may be attributed to his two-season hiatus from the tracks, according to Planet F1.
The 41-year-old two-time world champion is reportedly into real estate and owns properties across the world.
2. Lewis Hamilton – US$55 million
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The 37-year-old’s salary earnings do not include the multitude of wealth he makes from endorsements with Tommy Hilfiger, Monster Energy and Puma, among others.
1. Max Verstappen – US$60 million
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the highest-paid racer is also currently the hottest racer in the game. Sitting atop the World Championships for several years in a row, Max Verstappen is also taking home wealth to the tune of US$60 million for this season alone!
- The F1 season closed with Verstappen bagging US$60 million, while Hamilton still makes stacks of cash from Tommy Hilfiger, Monster Energy and Puma
- Retiring Aston Martin star Sebastian Vettel pulled in US$17 million while Daniel Ricciardo, from Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive may have scored a new Hulu gig