How much does an F1 rookie earn? Comparing young drivers’ salaries

It’s raining money in Formula 1 more than ever, and among the biggest gainers are F1 drivers Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Aston Martin’s new recruit, Adrian Newey. However, it’s not as rosy for those who have recently entered the races. Rookies earn much less than the reigning stars, with their salaries often running in the six-figure range, compared to Hamilton’s eight-figure salary.
Among the lowest-paid rookies participating in the 2025 Formula 1 season are 20-year-old Isack Hadjar from Racing Bulls and Alpine driver Jack Doohan, 22. Both of them will take home half a million dollars for their first F1 season. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Oliver Bearman of Haas will also earn a million dollars as a rookie. On the other hand, rookies Kimi Antonelli from Mercedes and Gabriel Bortoleto from Sauber are each taking home $2 million. Antonelli, just 18, has already built an impressive track record and has a long career ahead.
Former Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson, 23, was paid slightly more with a $1 million pay package. However, he is now Verstappen’s teammate, while non-rookie Yuki Tsunoda, earning $2 million, is taking home the same salary from Racing Bulls as some rookies from other teams. Tsunoda missed the chance to debut at Red Bull this season and even changed his managerial team after things didn’t go as planned.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton have jaw-dropping paychecks of around $65 million and $60 million respectively. But there’s no doubt they took their own sweet time to reach the top, winning one race at a time. While the rookies’ salaries may seem tiny in comparison to the top earners, there is no shortage of inspiration for them to grow and achieve similar success.
Other well-paid F1 drivers include Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, McLaren’s Lando Norris, and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
Also Read: F1 2025 Driver Salaries: Who Tops the List as the Highest-Paid Star on This Year's Grid?
There’s plenty to look forward to this season, with more cash flowing in from race wins, podium finishes, and sponsorships. All it takes to change the fortunes of a driver is one successful season or a record-breaking race. With the new season kicking off with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this month, we'll have to wait and see how things unfold. Good luck to the rookies!