Driver's Salaries

Source: MSN.co.uk.

The driver salaries for every competitor in F1 2009 have been published, containing a number of surprises - most notably the discrepancy in team-mate pay in some cases, and also the staggering gap between what the highest-paid driver receives and the pay packet of the next man on the list...

Ahead of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend around the all-new, spectacular Yas Marina street circuit, Arabian Business has revealed the salary list, which is perhaps unsurprisingly topped by former world champions Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari, 2007), Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes, 2008 ) and Fernando Alonso (Renault, 2005/2006).

A quote taken from the Article "Whilst four drivers on the grid - Kazuki Nakajima (Williams), Romain Grosjean (Renault) and Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi (both Force India F1) - went unpaid"

1. Kimi Raikkonen $45m

2. Lewis Hamilton $18m

3. Fernando Alonso $15m

4. Nico Rosberg $8.5m

5. Felipe Massa $8m

6. Jarno Trulli $6.5m

7. Sebastian Vettel $6m

8. Mark Webber $5.5m

9. Jenson Button $5m

10. Robert Kubica $4.5m

11. Heikki Kovalainen $3.5m

12. Nick Heidfeld $2.8m

13. Timo Glock $2m

14. Giancarlo Fisichella $1.5m

15. Sébastien Buemi $1.5m

16. Rubens Barrichello $1m

17. Jaime Alguersuari $0.5m

18. Vitantonio Liuzzi $Nil

19. Adrian Sutil $Nil

20. Romain Grosjean $Nil

21. Kazuki Nakajima $Nil

What the F1 teams spent on drivers in 2009:

1. Ferrari $53m

2. McLaren-Mercedes $21.5m

3. Renault $15m

4. Red Bull Racing $11.5m

5. Toyota $8.5

6. Williams $8.5m

7. BMW-Sauber $7.3m

8. Brawn GP $6m

9. Scuderia Toro Rosso $2m

10. Force India $1.5m

If I was Felipe, i would be asking for a $37 million bonus at the end of the year!!! :D

I knew Raikkonen was a bit, but not that much!!!

Unfortunatly they went unpaid, But i'm sure that their own personal sponsers brought in a million or two, so i'm sure they earnt money else where. kipi19

I see. Some "under the table" stuff at a brothel in Germany. *shudders* 

Button's isn't quite true. I'm sure he was $3m.Redders1989

Yeah MSN's data probably is a bit old 

I'm surprised at how low many of those salaries are. I wonder what this actually reflects though - it certainly wouldn't be the total income for the driver, considering sponsorship.

Now he's world champion I'm sure there will be more than a few companies willing to pay millions for him to appear on their commercials, and easily match his current salary for racing in F1.

The Force India salaries in particular look very odd - paid nothing? I can understand wanting to have a seat in F1 - maybe rather than a salary they get by with everything bought by the team, so instead of being paid a wage, they simply have no costs of living instead?

Button's isn't quite true. I'm sure he was $3m.Redders1989

I thought Button was £3m making $5m about right!?!?!?

I'm surprised at how low many of those salaries are. I wonder what this actually reflects though - it certainly wouldn't be the total income for the driver, considering sponsorship.

Now he's world champion I'm sure there will be more than a few companies willing to pay millions for him to appear on their commercials, and easily match his current salary for racing in F1.

The Force India salaries in particular look very odd - paid nothing? I can understand wanting to have a seat in F1 - maybe rather than a salary they get by with everything bought by the team, so instead of being paid a wage, they simply have no costs of living instead?

Avenger1324

I would bet the list reflects how much the TEAM pays the driver. I bet Nakajima for example is paid a salary by Toyota as the engine deal is the only reason Williams kept him and why he is now leaving!!

[QUOTE="Redders1989"]Button's isn't quite true. I'm sure he was $3m.SadPSPAddict

I thought Button was £3m making $5m about right!?!?!?

I may have got it wrong, thinking about it.