Formula One is a high-paying and equally expensive sport. In this world, there are a number of celebrities and almost all of them boast a lavish lifestyle amongst the masses. They drive some extremely sophisticated and exquisite machines on track and some rare and equally impressive cars outside.
As such, you may be wondering just who is the richest driver in Formula 1. These extreme athletes ‘who get paid for driving around in circles’ must also have a limit. Well, the first thought that you may have must be Max Verstappen, the new hot shot in Formula 1 or maybe “Sir” Lewis Hamilton. But no, the richest driver is actually one of the best in Formula 1 and we don’t see him nowadays.
Who is the richest driver in Formula One history?
It is none other than the German who turned the entire fate of Ferrari with dominating and consecutive world titles, Michael Schumacher. Michael is the most famous German in the history of Formula One, and he is also the richest driver ever.
Michael, who is a seven-time world champion of Formula One, has a net worth of around $600 million dollars throughout his lifetime of earnings in the sport and various other factors. He made almost $100 million a year during his prime. He used to get $10 million every year just to wear a ‘Shell’ hat during public appearances.
How much does Lewis Hamilton get paid each race?
The next driver on our list is no less a legend himself. Lewis Hamilton who also won 7 championships in Formula 1 has amassed a lot of wealth with his performances and sponsors. Lewis Hamilton has his own brand and he owns various teams. He even owned exotic cars like the Pagani Zonda R.
As such, one must be wondering about the salary of Lewis Hamilton, well it is not surprising that Lewis’s contract is one of the most expensive on the whole Formula 1 grid with extra perks. Mercedes pay Lewis Hamilton $32,847,060 a year. Too many numbers, in that case let’s go down to the minutest details.
His salary equates to £1,493,048 per race, £28,712 per lap and £7,845 per mile driven by the 37-year-old Brit.
With the amount of payment these drivers get, you must be thinking that these drivers might have an easy job, but beware that driving a Formula 1 car is one of the most demanding and dangerous tasks in the sporting world and these drivers have to pay back a huge sum to stay in the sport too.
