Inside the 2026 F1 Grid: How Championship Leader Kimi Antonelli's Salary Compares

Mercedes phenomenon Kimi Antonelli has taken the Formula One season by storm, putting himself firmly on course to become the sport's youngest world champion at just 20 years of age. During his home Grand Prix in Monza, the Italian driver delivered an incredible performance by securing victory despite starting 19th on the grid. This remarkable achievement marked Antonelli's seventh win in 13 rounds, extending his lead at the top of the standings to 66 points. His Mercedes teammate and pre-season favorite George Russell openly acknowledged that Antonelli remains in full control of the F1 championship.

Should Antonelli secure the title, it will finalize one of the most astonishing stories in the history of F1. Alongside the glory, Antonelli can also anticipate a significant pay increase, having entered the current campaign on one of the lowest base salaries in the entire paddock. The complete breakdown of Formula One salaries for the 2026 season, compiled from f1salaries.com and racingnews365.com with bonuses excluded, highlights the financial landscape of the sport.

Formula One Salaries for 2026

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – $70 million base salary
2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – $60 million
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – $34-36 million
4. George Russell (Mercedes) – $34 million
5. Lando Norris (McLaren) – $30 million
6. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – $20-24 million
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – $13-15 million
8. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – $13 million
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – $12 million
10. Alex Albon (Williams) – $12 million
11. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – $12 million
12. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) – $8-9 million
13. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) – $7 million
14. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – $7 million
15. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) – $5 million
16. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) – $5 million
17. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – $2 million
18. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – $2 million
19. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – $1-2 million
20. Oliver Bearman (Haas) – $1 million
21. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – $1 million
22. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – $1 million