In just a few weeks, Formula 1 will begin its closed-door testing programme for the 2026 season, but how much will each driver have to pay to take part in the championship? Here are all the figures for the drivers who will line up on the grid this year.
The 2026 Formula 1 season is now just around the corner. At the end of January, pre-season testing will get underway behind closed doors in Barcelona, before a double-header in Bahrain in February. The championship will then officially return to racing action in Melbourne in early March. As every year, however, participation in the season comes at a cost, and each driver must pay a fee to obtain their FIA superlicence.
The system for calculating the entry fee
As happens every season, drivers are required to pay a superlicence fee that is directly proportional to the number of World Championship points they scored in the previous year. Looking ahead to 2026, the base fee has been set at €11,842, with an additional €2,392 charged for each point scored during the 2025 championship.
The highest bill is unsurprisingly faced by Lando Norris. The McLaren driver, who was crowned World Champion after scoring 423 points, will be required to pay a total of €1,023,658, which is around €5,000 more than Max Verstappen.
The relatively small difference is explained by the fact that the two drivers were separated by just two points in the final standings. Immediately behind them comes Oscar Piastri, who finished the season with 410 points and comes close to the one-million-euro mark, paying €992,562 for his superlicence.
Further down the list are George Russell with a fee of €774,890, Charles Leclerc with €590,706 and Lewis Hamilton with €384,994. The amount is far from negligible even for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who after his rookie season will have to pay €370,642 to take part in the 2026 campaign.
The full list of 2026 entry fees
Lando Norris: €1,023,658 (423 points)
Max Verstappen: €1,018,874 (421 points)
Oscar Piastri: €992,562 (410 points)
George Russell: €774,890 (319 points)
Charles Leclerc: €590,706 (242 points)
Lewis Hamilton: €384,994 (156 points)
Andrea Kimi Antonelli: €370,642 (150 points)
Alexander Albon: €186,458 (73 points)
Carlos Sainz: €164,930 (64 points)
Fernando Alonso: €145,794 (56 points)
Nico Hulkenberg: €133,834 (51 points)
Isack Hadjar: €133,834 (51 points)
Oliver Bearman: €109,914 (41 points)
Liam Lawson: €102,738 (38 points)
Esteban Ocon: €102,738 (38 points)
Lance Stroll: €90,778 (33 points)
Pierre Gasly: €64,466 (22 points)
Gabriel Bortoleto: €57,290 (19 points)
Franco Colapinto: €11,842 (0 points)
Sergio Perez: €11,842
Valtteri Bottas: €11,842
Arvid Lindblad: €11,842
Leave a Reply