The 2025 F1 season wrapped up with plenty of storylines both on and off the track, but the financial battle looked just as intense once the dust settled in Abu Dhabi. While Lando Norris grabbed his first world championship under the bright lights of Yas Marina, the money race told a slightly different story, and for some years now, Max Verstappen has retained his spot at the top.
The Dutch driver has become one of the defining figures of modern F1 with four world titles and a relentless racing style that rarely leaves room for mistakes, and whether he is fighting wheel to wheel or cruising off in the lead, Verstappen rarely leaves a season without making headlines.
Max Verstappen’s Place in F1’s Financial Table
While Verstappen’s 2025 season did not bring another championship, it did yield something remarkable that highlights his continued dominance in the sport. The Dutchman earned an estimated $76 million this year, comprising $65 million in salary and an additional $11 million in bonuses.
It is the fourth consecutive season where he has ended up as the highest-paid driver on the grid, and it places him in a financial league that only a few athletes around the world ever reach in their careers.
For someone who often says winning is the only thing that matters, the numbers still reflect how valuable Red Bull believes he is, and when a driver stays this competitive for long, the money tends to follow.
Norris entered the year with huge expectations and finished it with his first championship and a long list of memorable drives. Off the track, he earned an estimated $57.5 million through salary and bonuses, which places him third on the 2025 financial list, behind Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton’s first year in Ferrari colors came with a record salary, where the seven-time champion earned roughly $70 million plus additional bonus money. Even deep into his career, Hamilton remains one of the most marketable athletes in global sport and continues to attract major sponsorship value from brands around the world.
Across F1, the top ten drivers earned a combined $363 million this season, representing a significant increase from 2024 and surpassing the totals seen earlier in the decade. Driver salaries have followed the trend of teams growing stronger financially and sponsorship interest at an all-time high.
There were also some new names in the earnings list as Lance Stroll came in at No. 8 with $13.5 million, a figure revealed through Aston Martin’s financial reports, and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli placed tenth with $12.5 million after a promising debut season.
Part of this rise stems from the cost cap, which limits what teams can spend on car development but does not include driver pay. When teams seek an advantage, the driver market becomes one of the few places where they can invest freely.
Contract structures still vary as experienced drivers often receive a guaranteed salary plus performance bonuses, while younger drivers rely more heavily on race results to boost their income. Hamilton remains the strongest off the track by earning around $20 million from endorsements, while Verstappen collected only about $6 million.
Over the five years that Forbes has tracked F1 earnings, Verstappen has earned approximately $323 million.
The racing world will continue to focus on race and championship battles, but the financial side has also become an interesting aspect of the sport. As F1 continues to grow, the numbers are expected to rise as teams place greater value on well-performing drivers.
