Know how much Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will make and the F1 prize money distribution and salary for the 2021 season
The Formula 1 2021 season will always be remembered by F1 aficionados. For the first time sine 1974, the top two drivers went into the season finale race level on points with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix set to determine which of Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen managed to be crowned the champion of this year’s season.
While the Mercedes man looked set to ease his way to a win, things went on a downtick for him after Nicholas Latifi crashed into the wall with five laps to go. As the safety car was deployed, Red Bull asked Verstappen to come in for new soft tyres, ones which helped him ease past Hamilton as the FIA allowed for overtaking once the race resumed.
F1 Prize Money Distribution, Salary 2021: How Much Lewis Hamilton And Max Verstappen Will Make
Verstappen eventually went onto win his maiden F1 Drivers’ Championship title to become the first driver from Netherlands in the process to win the coveted title. And he’s set to bag home a staggering payday as well as a part of the F1 prize money which will reward his handsomely for his triumph.
Prize money in F1 is split into two categories and the drivers are paid a salary by their teams with one half of the fund going to the F1 group and its shareholders while the other half goes to the teams.
The prize money is equivalent to 47.5 per cent of F1’s profit which is divided into two with one half split between the top ten teams in the championship.
With F1 generating a staggering $1.38billion in 2021 (£1.05bn) as revenue, the winning side will receive up to £50m extra for winning the Championship.
Hamilton is the highest paid driver this season with him pocketing £22m per year while Verstappen earns £18m. Hamilton is already set to make £47m while Verstappen has already taken home £32m and Fernando Alonso is third at £19m.
A Hamilton win would have released a £17.5m in bonus money to be paid among Mercedes staff with 2,000 staff receiving around £10,000 in bonus money. Red Bull are set to pay Verstappen bonus for his win.
2017 Formula 1 Prize Money Table
| Standings | Teams | Equal | Merit | Other Payments | TOTAL |
| 1 | Mercedes | $42m | $76.5m | $30m (Historical payment) | $148.5m |
| 2 | Ferrari | $42m | $56m | $90m (Ferrari payment) + $20m (bonus fund) | $208m |
| 3 | Williams | $42m | $45.5m | $30m (Historical payment) | $117.5m |
| 4 | Red Bull | $42m | $38.5m | $60m (Bonus Fund) | $140.5m |
| 5 | Foce India | $42m | $35m | $77m | |
| 6 | Lotus | $42m | $31.5m | $73.5m | |
| 7 | Toro Rosso | $42m | $24.5m | $68.5m | |
| 8 | Sauber | $42m | $21m | $63m | |
| 9 | McLaren | $42m | $17.5m | $34m (Bonus Fund) | $93.5m |
| 10 | Marussia | $42m | $14m | $56m |
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