Every year a report of how much each Formula One driver earns is published – and looking at the 2012 list, some drivers are quids-in when it comes to driving at the highest level.
The annual report – taken from Spanish newspaper El Mundo – shows that Ferrari still have the financial might to pay the top wages. Fernando Alonso tops the list, on a staggering twenty-four million pounds. Spare a thought for Felipe Massa, he’s £16m less well off, only on a measly £8m.
As for the Brits, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button lead the way on £12.9m each. We figure that Jenson’s contract extension bumped him up to the same level as Lewis, with bonuses probably coming into play to differentiate between the two. Hamilton’s multi-million pound contract is up at the end of this season, and much had been made about what options the 27-year-old has leading into next year.
At the bottom of the list is rookie Charles Pic – understandable considering Marussia is a “new” team and his experience level – but spare a thought for Force India’s Paul Di Resta. The Scot earns £160,000, less than both drivers at Toro Rosso and, surprisingly, HRT!
The full list is as follows;
1. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) – €30 million/£24 Million
2. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) – €16 million/£12.9 Million
– Jenson Button (McLaren) – €16 million/£12.9 Million
4. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) – €10 million/£8 Million
– Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing) – €10 million/£8 Million
– Felipe Massa (Ferrari) – €10 million/£8 Million
– Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) – €10 million/£8 Million
8. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) – €8 million/£6.4 Million
9. Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) – €5 million/£4 Million
10. Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham) – €4 million/£3.2 Million
11. Timo Glock (Marussia) – €3 million/£2.4 Million
12. Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber) – €1 million/£800,000
– Romain Grosjean (Lotus) – €1 million/£800,000
14. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) – €500,000/£400,000
– Sergio Perez (Sauber) – €500,000/£400,000
– Vitaly Petrov (Caterham) – €500,000/£400,000
– Pedro de la Rosa (HRT) – €500,000/£400,000
18. Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso) – €400,000/£300,000
– Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) – €400,000/£300,000
– Pastor Maldonado (Williams) – €400,000/£300,000
21. Bruno Senna (Williams) – €250,000/£200,000
– Nairan Karthikeyan (HRT) – €250,000/£200,000
23. Paul di Resta (Force India) – €200,000/£160,000
24. Charles Pic (Marussia) – €150,000/£120,000
