From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, passing via Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, and some surprises: right here’s the rating of System 1 drivers’ salaries within the 2024 season.
Quick, beloved, and… well-paid. As custom, on the finish of the 2024 season, the record of the highest-paid System 1 drivers has been revealed, with knowledge from the authoritative American financial journal Forbes. This multimillion-dollar rating options essentially the most distinguished drivers of the 2024 season, with a number of surprises.
Listed below are the ten highest-paid System 1 drivers in 2024:
tenth place – Pierre Gasly, Alpine ($12 million wage)
The 28-year-old French driver, a veteran of System 1 since 2017, was one of many surprises of the 12 months. Quick, constant, and stable, he scored 42 factors with an uncompetitive Alpine, ending tenth within the 2024 Drivers’ Championship. The identical place he holds within the highest-paid record, with a $12 million wage, together with $10 million base wage and $2 million in bonuses. A well-deserved wage, not just for his outcomes but in addition for his warning on observe, as he’s the one driver to not have induced any harm to the workforce. Chapeau!
ninth place – Carlos Sainz, Ferrari ($19 million wage)
Carlos Sainz had a bittersweet 2024, beginning with the information of his dismissal from Ferrari to make manner for Lewis Hamilton, however incomes two wins (in Australia and Mexico) and several other podiums, which finally secured him fifth place within the Drivers’ Championship. The Spaniard, who will race for Williams in 2025, leaves Maranello with many good reminiscences and a $19 million paycheck for the season, cut up between $10 million in wage and $9 million in bonuses.
eighth place – Sergio Perez, Pink Bull ($19.5 million wage)
In eighth place within the highest-paid rating is Pink Bull’s Mexican driver. Perez had a powerful begin to the season, securing 4 podiums within the first 5 races, however then misplaced velocity and consistency, with incidents and poor performances within the second half of the season. As of now, his future at Pink Bull is unsure. Regardless of this, Perez, who brings among the workforce’s richest sponsors, earned $19.5 million this 12 months ($12 million base wage and $7.5 million in bonuses).
seventh place – Oscar Piastri, McLaren ($22 million wage)
Among the many youngest drivers, Oscar Piastri is by far the best paid, with a $22 million wage. The 23-year-old Australian McLaren driver, in his second System 1 season, shocked everybody along with his composure and consistency, securing two wins in Hungary and Azerbaijan. His wage breakdown revealed by Forbes reveals that solely $5 million was his base wage, whereas the remaining $17 million got here from bonuses. Now, past his earnings, Piastri appears decided to do even higher and battle for the 2025 World Championship.
sixth place – George Russell, Mercedes ($23 million wage)
For 26-year-old George Russell, 2024 was a season of ups and downs, with two wins but in addition many troublesome races, as Mercedes was inconsistent by way of competitiveness. Finally, Russell completed the season forward of teammate Lewis Hamilton within the factors standings, with the accountability of changing into the brand new workforce chief when Hamilton leaves the Silver Arrows to make room for younger Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Financially, Russell ranked sixth among the many highest-paid drivers, with $23 million in complete, together with $8 million in bonuses.
fifth place – Charles Leclerc, Ferrari ($27 million wage)
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s consultant, ranked within the high 5 highest-paid drivers of 2024. This 12 months, he had his most profitable season by way of wins, claiming three victories, together with one in Monaco and one in Monza, the place he loved an unforgettable crowd celebration with Ferrari followers. Though by no means in rivalry for the World Championship attributable to Ferrari’s lack of competitiveness, he fought till the tip of the season for the vice-champion title, finally ending third, behind Verstappen and Norris. In 2025, Leclerc may have a seven-time World Champion, Hamilton, as his teammate and might want to give his finest to keep up his place as Ferrari’s workforce chief. For now, he receives $27 million from Maranello, together with $15 million in base wage and $12 million in bonuses.
4th place – Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin ($27.5 million wage)
Fernando Alonso’s 2024 was actually not a 12 months to recollect, with solely 70 factors in 24 races, which earned him ninth place within the standings, forward of Pierre Gasly. These disappointing outcomes, particularly in comparison with his 2023 efficiency (4th with 206 factors), are considerably softened by one of many highest salaries in System 1: $27.5 million, with $3.5 million in bonuses and $24 million in base wage. This determine demonstrates how a lot the two-time World Champion, with Renault in 2005 and 2006, is valued by his Aston Martin boss, Lawrence Stroll. Now, Alonso is eagerly awaiting 2026, when he’ll lastly drive a automobile solely designed by Adrian Newey.
third place – Lando Norris, McLaren ($35 million wage)
After the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, when McLaren was final within the standings with zero factors, nobody might have imagined the workforce’s meteoric rise over the following two years. In the present day, McLaren stands on the high of the world, having simply received the Constructors’ Championship, with plans to battle for the Drivers’ Title in 2025. Lando Norris, regardless of some very adverse moments, proved to be the true chief of the British workforce in 2024. He finishes the season with elevated consciousness, some regrets, and the title of Vice-Champion, in addition to $35 million in earnings, of which $23 million have been from bonuses.
2nd place – Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes ($57 million wage)
Lewis Hamilton’s 2024 was a 12 months of separation from Mercedes. Introduced as Ferrari’s future driver initially of the 12 months, Hamilton had a very troublesome season, typically uncomfortable along with his automobile and struggling within the decrease ranks attributable to subpar qualifying performances. Finally, Hamilton bid farewell to Mercedes with two wins, at Silverstone and Spa, and an unbelievable overtaking on Russell within the last race in Abu Dhabi, the place he made a outstanding comeback. Regardless of ending seventh within the Drivers’ Championship, Hamilton ranks 2nd within the highest-paid record, with $57 million in earnings, together with $55 million in base wage. Hamilton represents a beneficial “model” for Mercedes, and his wage is well-justified by the immense variety of sponsors and media protection he has delivered to the workforce, which he’ll now take to Ferrari.
1st place – Max Verstappen, Pink Bull ($75 million wage)
In 1st place, there might solely be him, the dominant determine of contemporary System 1. Freshly topped World Champion for the fourth time, Verstappen received 9 races this 12 months, securing the title with two races to spare, although he confronted extra challenges than the earlier 12 months when he virtually raced alone for your complete season. Regardless of Pink Bull’s struggles early within the 12 months with the lack of key figures (together with Adrian Newey), Verstappen managed to restrict the harm in the course of the season when his automobile wasn’t aggressive, earlier than returning to dominate when circumstances improved. In current months, the Dutchman overtly clashed with the FIA, even receiving a penalty to serve group service in Rwanda. These conditions appear to have had no influence on Verstappen’s confidence, as he prepares for fatherhood and a good harder battle in 2025 to stay on the high. In the meantime, he welcomes the biggest wage in F1 historical past: $75 million, together with $60 million in base wage and $15 million in bonuses. Champion in earnings as properly.