How Much Are F1 Drivers Paid Per Point?

This article looks at driver salaries in a different way. We have taken the reported base salary of each driver in 2025 and divided this by the amount of points they scored. While it’s an arbitrary rating system, it does give a good baseline for the value each driver provides for their team.

We’ve also included potential on-track earnings per point, which adds the bonuses each driver could earn from the team. However, the list has been ranked purely on base salaries, as this is the closest we can get to accurate salary data.

Some of the top spots are quite surprising, and it’s notable that Lando Norris doesn’t even make the top 5 ‘underpaid’ positions, but his teammate does.

Who Were the 5 Most Overpaid Drivers in 2025?

Lance Stroll (left), Franco Colapinto (middle), Fernando Alonso (right)

It should be said that the concept of an ‘overpaid’ driver is completely subjective, and some drivers are paid high salaries for the experience and knowledge they bring to a team rather than outright race results.

In any case, when we look at the top 5 most ‘overpaid’ drivers on the grid, the results are mostly predictable, but sometimes surprising.

1. Franco Colapinto

Points 0
Team Alpine
Base Salary $375k-750k (NA per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $375k-750k (NA per point)

Even though he only joined Alpine after the first six rounds of 2025 and drove the slowest car, a zero point season is always a letdown. All eyes were on Franco Colapinto heading into 2026 to put some points to his name, which was always going to be harder with two extra cars on the grid.

2. Pierre Gasly

Points 22
Team Alpine
Base Salary $10m ($454,545 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $10m ($454,545 per point)

Pierre Gasly is a somewhat surprising number two on the list. At times, it seemed he outperformed the car, but his high salary per point reflects both his veteran salary and the difficulties he faced in terms of overall pace. Alpine will know that while they lack points, his feedback is invaluable to help with their long-term car development.

3. Fernando Alonso

Points 56
Team Aston Martin
Base Salary $24m ($428,571 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $26.5m ($473,214 per point)

It’s interesting to see two old rivals back to back at the expensive end of the list. Aston Martin will know the immense value Fernando Alonso brings to the team in terms of his knowledge and experience in a range of teams.

4. Lewis Hamilton

Points 156
Team Ferrari
Base Salary $60m ($384,615 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $60.5m ($387,821 per point)

It’s no surprise that Lewis Hamilton features so high on the list. He was the second-highest-paid driver on the grid behind Max Verstappen, and he also had a tricky 2025 season and admits that his bedding-in period has been rocky. Ferrari were hoping the new engine formula in 2026 would bring stronger results to justify such a hefty price tag.

See also Which F1 Teams Spend the Most on Salaries?

5. Lance Stroll

Points 33
Team Aston Martin
Base Salary $12m ($363,636 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $13.5m ($409,091 per point)

Lance Stroll is perhaps the most obvious candidate as a top 5 overpaid driver. His base salary per point scored is very close to that of his teammate, despite scoring far fewer points. His position will always be secure as long as his billionaire father owns the team.

The Middle 50% of the Grid

Alex Albon (left), Gabriel Bortoleto (middle), Charles Leclerc (right)

We now take a big jump to 6th place, almost halving the salary per point for the next driver on the list.

6. Esteban Ocon

Points 38
Team Haas
Base Salary $7m ($184,211 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $7m ($184,211 per point)

Despite a fairly functional performance in 2025, the huge gap between Esteban Ocon’s salary per point and that of his teammate says more about Oliver Bearman’s performance and rookie salary than anything else. While Ocon brings stability and experience to a team that appeared to be on the rise heading into the 2026 season, his salary to point ratio is still quite high.

See also How Do Rookie Contracts Work in F1?

7. Carlos Sainz Jr

Points 64
Team Williams
Base Salary $10m ($156,250 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $13m ($203,125 per point)

After a difficult decision to move to Williams in 2025, Carlos Sainz Jr. has extracted as much value out of the car as anybody might have expected. His bonuses lift that to $203,125 per point. Either way, Williams will be glad to have an experienced race-winner onboard for a reasonable salary per point.

8. Max Verstappen

Points 421
Team Red Bull
Base Salary $65m ($154,394 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $76m ($180,523 per point)

Even though his 2025 campaign had its ups and downs, Max Verstappen more than earned every point he scored, and his team would undeniably be happy with the value he provided. Even though his salary per point is much higher than his McLaren rivals, at some points in the season his Red Bull was driving the 3rd or 4th fastest car on the grid. It would be hard to fault the amount he was paid per point scored.

9. Nico Hülkenberg

Points 51
Team Sauber (now Audi)
Base Salary $7m ($137,255 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $7m ($137,255 per point)

Over the 2025 season, Nico Hülkenberg had a quietly confident season, consistently operating at the ceiling of his car’s potential. His brilliant podium at the British Grand Prix did a lot for his salary per point.

10. Charles Leclerc

Points 242
Team Ferrari
Base Salary $30m ($123,967 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $30m ($123,967 per point)

Now a mainstay of the Ferrari family, Charles Leclerc performed much better than his teammate. It’s understandable to see why some question Hamilton’s extreme salary considering he was outperformed nearly every weekend and was paid twice Leclerc’s base salary. Leclerc has since signed a new Ferrari deal that runs to 2028.

11. Alex Albon

Points 73
Team Williams
Base Salary $8m ($109,589 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $8m ($109,589 per point)

Alex Albon is a great demonstration that a difference in salary combined with a larger points haul can result in a much higher placement than a teammate. His reported base salary is $2m lower than that of his teammate Carlos Sainz, yet he brought home 9 more points. As a result, his base salary per point was $109,589 compared to $156,250, which is a big difference (although we would stress that both drivers bring a huge amount of value to the team).

12. Gabriel Bortoleto

Points 19
Team Sauber (now Audi)
Base Salary $2m ($105,263 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $2m ($105,263 per point)

Gabriel Bortoleto is a curious entry on this list. By regularly outqualifying his teammate Nico Hülkenberg, he certainly had some impressive moments. Despite these flashes of raw talent, his season was less consistent than some of the other rookies. It will be interesting to see what value he provides in 2026 during his first season with the new Audi team.

13. Yuki Tsunoda

Points 33
Team Red Bull (after race 2)
Base Salary $2m ($60,606 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $3m ($90,909 per point)

Most F1 fans would agree that Yuki Tsunoda had a challenging 2025 season. He was linked with the Red Bull seat over the winter break, but Liam Lawson got it instead and then lost it to Yuki after just two races. His middling position on the list more reflects his relatively low base salary as opposed to his points haul, although he joins the ranks of Red Bull junior drivers who fail to impress in the coveted second seat.

14. George Russell

Points 319
Team Mercedes
Base Salary $15m ($47,022 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $26m ($81,505 per point)

Much like Lando Norris, George Russell also brought home an impressive batch of points compared to his base salary. While his per-point value doesn’t match his teammate’s, it’s very impressive for a well-established driver on a high salary with the 2nd fastest car. This is a great example of a driver who provides value to their team on a points and experience/knowledge basis.

15. Lando Norris

Points 423
Team McLaren
Base Salary $18m ($42,553 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $57.5m ($135,934 per point)

After winning the Drivers’ Championship in 2025, Lando Norris was paid an average of $42,553 base salary for every point he scored. With a high base salary of $18m, this value is even more impressive considering just how many points he brought home for McLaren, a total of 423 across the season. Once bonuses are included, that rises to about $135,934 per point.

See also How Do Performance Bonuses Work in F1?

Who Were the 5 Most Underpaid Drivers in 2025?

Oscar Piastri (left), Liam Lawson (middle), Oliver Bearman (right)

Rookie contracts make a big difference to salary per point. A rookie on a low salary scoring a few points could easily provide more value ‘on paper’ than a veteran with a high salary who scores many points.

Yet, as important as knowledge and experience are to all teams across the grid, points are what move the dial by moving teams up the championship table and bringing in more Constructors’ Championship prize money for the year.

16. Liam Lawson

Points 38
Team Racing Bulls (after race 2)
Base Salary $1m ($26,316 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $1m ($26,316 per point)

Liam Lawson is an unexpected and welcome entry in the top five. While he attracted a lot of controversy throughout the season with what some describe as his ‘reckless’ driving style, he certainly brought home a lot of points compared to his salary. After being dropped to Racing Bulls after two races, he found his footing there and performed well enough to keep his seat for 2026.

17. Oscar Piastri

Points 410
Team McLaren
Base Salary $10m ($24,390 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $37.5m ($91,463 per point)

For only his 3rd season in F1, Oscar Piastri had a remarkable season by all accounts. While a slump in performance at the tail-end of the year saw him lose out to his teammate, his base salary of $10m means he was paid less per point than his championship rivals, and exactly the same as Oliver Bearman. If there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that Piastri has firmly established himself as a top talent across the paddock and now has the ability to command much higher salaries than most with his experience.

18. Oliver Bearman

Points 41
Team Haas
Base Salary $1m ($24,390 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $1m ($24,390 per point)

Everybody has been impressed with Oliver Bearman’s performance in the 2025 season. As a rookie, he outscored his veteran teammate Esteban Ocon, and he did it at just $24,390 base salary per point compared to Ocon’s $184,211 per point. However, it should be said that Ocon provided the stability, guidance, and mentorship Bearman needed to thrive.

19. Kimi Antonelli

Points 150
Team Mercedes
Base Salary $3.4m ($22,667 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $10.9m ($72,667 per point)

Kimi Antonelli had a great 2025 season. His base salary per point is a little lower than Oliver Bearman’s, and he scored 150 points as a rookie in the second-fastest car, far more than any other first-year driver. Like Bearman, he had a veteran teammate and a team that’s fully invested in his long-term success. He’s also understood to have significant bonus clauses, which lift his potential on-track earnings to around $72,667 per point.

See also How Do Rookie Contracts Work in F1?

Which F1 Driver Provided the Most Value?

Isack Hadjar in his garage. Credit: F1.com

And now we come to the top-spot, and it’s a driver you probably weren’t expecting, but one which will make a lot of sense once you see their salary compared to their points-haul.

20. Isack Hadjar

Points 51
Team Racing Bulls
Base Salary $500k-1m (about $14,706 per point)
Potential On-Track Earnings $500k-1m (about $14,706 per point)

By far and away, Isack Hadjar provided the most value in 2025. He impressed Racing Bulls so much that he secured a promotion to the Red Bull seat for a salary of $7.5m per year. In the 2025 season, he brought home more points than Yuki Tsunoda in the Red Bull, and Liam Lawson in the Racing Bulls (both of whom swapped seats after the second race).

He is yet another example of a rookie providing extreme value, and makes Racing Bulls one of the lowest salary payers across all 10 teams despite finishing 6th in the Constructors’ Championship. His consistency provided Racing Bulls with a solid foundation across a rocky season with a lot of key staff turnover and uncertainty regarding Max Verstappen’s future.

Heading into 2026, many fans were eager to see how Isack would handle the step up to Red Bull, a tough ask for any driver even with a fresh set of regulations to level things out.

What We’ve Learned

One clear pattern is that rookies often appear to offer stronger value on paper. Lower base salaries mean their overall compensation is more heavily weighted toward bonuses, so even modest points returns can make them look highly efficient. For the likes of Bearman, Antonelli, and Hadjar, the strongest value comes from rookie drivers who are outperforming both their cars and the expectations set for them at the start of the season.

By contrast, veterans like Alonso and Gasly can look like poorer value when judged purely on their salary per point. That is usually a reflection of higher fixed salaries rather than declining performance (apart from Hamilton, of course). Teams often pay a premium for experience, technical feedback, consistency, and leadership, all of which feed into long-term results.

The most successful teams tend to strike a balance between the two. Pairing a high-upside rookie with an experienced benchmark driver, as seen at Mercedes and Haas, allows teams to extract performance while managing cost and risk.

By comparing drivers’ base salaries to the amount of points they earned, we’re able to recognize performances that went under the radar, shine some light on future potential, and highlight cases where points value doesn’t necessarily tell the whole picture. Scoring points is still the be-all and end-all for any Formula One team.