George Russell has become one of the highest-paid Formula 1 drivers on the grid after signing a new multi-year contract with Mercedes.
The Brit’s previous deal was due to expire at the end of the season, with his future up in the air amid Mercedes’ pursuit of Max Verstappen.
But with the reigning champion staying at Red Bull for now, the Silver Arrows have now signed up Russell and rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli for the foreseeable future.
The exact length of their deals, announced on Wednesday ahead of the United States Grand Prix, have not been disclosed, but it is reported that Russell will now earn around £30million-a-season.
‘Looking into next year, there were a lot of things I wanted off-track to get right to allow me to perform at my very best on track,’ the 27-year-old said ahead of the race in Austin.
‘And the truth is, if every single seat was available, and I could choose any single seat to race for in 2026, I would choose to be in the Mercedes. I truly think that is the place that will give you the best chance of winning the world championship next year with everything I know now.’
Who is the highest paid F1 driver in 2025?
Salary figures are hard to pin down in F1 and the exact numbers won’t be known till the end of the season once bonuses and personal sponsors are also factored in.
In terms of just the base salary, it is reported that Max Verstappen is currently the highest paid driver on the F1 grid, as has been the case since winning his first championship in 2021.
The Red Bull star earns roughly £48.7million, just pipping Sir Lewis Hamilton on £45m.
Russell’s new salary sees him jump up onto the podium ahead of Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc who earns £25.5m.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso and this year’s title rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are paid around £20m.
At the other end of the scale are the rookies, with Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto earning around £375,000. Jack Doohan was on the same salary before being replaced by Colapinto after just five races of the season.
2025 F1 driver salaries
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – £48.7m
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – £45m
- George Russell (Mercedes) – £30m
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – £25.5m
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – £15m
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – £15m
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – £15m
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – £7.5m
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – £7.5m
- Alex Albon (Williams) – £6m
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – £5.2m
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) – £5.2m
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – £2.2m
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – £1.5m
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – £1.5m
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – £1.5m
- Ollie Bearman (Haas) – £750,000
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – £750,000
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – £375,000
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – £375,000
- Jack Doohan (Alpine) – £375,000
Why didn’t Mercedes sign Max Verstappen for 2026?
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has made no secret that he wants to sign Max Verstappen from Red Bull, revealing in June that he was in talks with the four-time champion.
The release clause in Verstappen’s Red Bull contract stated he could negotiate a move if he was outside the top-three of the championship going into the summer break – which he wasn’t.
The Silver Arrows, or indeed anyone else, could still sign him if they or the driver himself paid out the rest of his contract which runs until 2028, but given that would cost upwards of £150m, it is an option that is not being considered.
Still, speaking in an exclusive interview with Metro, Sky Sports F1 host Simon Lazenby would love to see Russell and Verstappen team up despite the tense rivalry between the drivers.
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