F1 drivers are some of the biggest earners in sport, bringing home, in some cases, tens of millions per year, but eating into their earnings is a curious FIA rule that charges varying fees
Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris will pay starkly different fees in 2026(Image: Mark Sutton – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Everything you need to know about the FIA’s super license fee system as drivers pay to compete in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
How the system works: Every Formula 1 driver must pay a base fee of approximately £10,250 to renew their racing license for the upcoming season. On top of this flat rate, they are charged an additional £2,070 for every single championship point they earned in the previous year.
The big spenders: Drivers like Max Verstappen and Lando Norris face massive bills exceeding £880,000 after scoring over 420 points each in 2025. This system effectively means that the more successful a driver is on the track, the more expensive it becomes for them to enter the following championship.
Big rookie hit : Kimi Antonelli has only been in F1 for one season, but the Mercedes rookie must already stump up over £320,000 to compete in his sophomore season. The Italian teenager notched 150 points in 2025, only six fewer than the seven-time world champion he replaced.
Hamilton’s middling fee: Lewis Hamilton will pay roughly £330,000 for his 2026 license following his debut season with Ferrari, where he scored 156 points. While this is a significant sum, it is considerably lower than the fees faced by his top-performing rivals.
Only £10,250 for some : Franco Colapinto failed to score points on his return to F1 with Alpine in 2025 and will therefore pay only the base fee to the FIA. The same price will be met by returning veterans Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, as well as Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad.