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F1 2016 Driver salaries – who earned most?

The annual list of Formula 1 salaries has again been published with Lewis Hamilton ousting Fernando Alonso from the top position.

The information - complied by Business Book GP and reported by Sportune.fr back in September - alleges the three-time F1 world champion took home €32 million this season, up €7 million on his previous year's salary, a consequence of the new deal he signed with Mercedes twelve months ago. It does not take into account any external endorsements.

Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel also got a rise in his second season with Ferrari, up from €28m to €30m, the same as Fernando Alonso - his take home at McLaren-Honda actually down by €5m compared to 2015, it is unclear why.

Jenson Button is fourth, estimated to have got €17m in his final year as a race driver for McLaren-Honda - unless he comes back in 2018 of course - with Champion Nico Rosberg a relative bargain with a salary of €16m. The German did have a Mercedes contract for 2017 and 2018, thought to be worth around €20-€25m per year, but will now forgo that following his decision to retire.

Kimi Raikkonen completes the top-eight on €8 million - compared to the €18 million he was said to have earned in 2015 - followed by Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo with €5.5 million (+€4m on 2015), and Felipe Massa, Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg, all reputedly making €4m, no change compared to last year.

Romain Grosjean took a €1m pay-cut after moving to Haas, while Valtteri Bottas saw his income increase by the same amount - leaving both on €3m.

Max Verstappen took a relatively paltry €500,000, but will surely earn more in 2016 following his early promotion back in May and Red Bull's decision to sign him to a long term contract.

The full breakdown is below...

Drivers:

1. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes €32m
2. Sebastian Vettel Ferrari €30m
= Fernando Alonso McLaren-Honda €30m
4. Jenson Button McLaren-Honda €17m
5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes €16m
6. Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari €8m
7. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing €5.5m
8. Felipe Massa Williams €4m
= Nico Hulkenberg Force India F1 €4m
= Sergio Perez Force India F1 €4m
11. Romain Grosjean Haas F1 Team €3m
= Valtteri Bottas Williams €3m
13. Esteban Gutierrez Haas F1 Team €750,000
14. Kevin Magnussen Renault €750,000
15. Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso/Red Bull Racing €750,000
16. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing/Toro Rosso €500,000
= Pascal Wehrlein Manor €500,000
18. Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso €350,000
19. Jolyon Palmer Renault €250,000
20. Felipe Nasr Sauber €200,000
= Marcus Ericsson Sauber €200,000
22. Rio Haryanto Manor €150,000
23. Esteban Ocon Manor Not listed

What the F1 teams spent on drivers in 2016:

1. Mercedes €48m
2. McLaren-Honda €47m
3. Ferrari €38m
4. Force India €8m
5. Williams €7m
6. Red Bull Racing €6-6.25m
7. Renault €1m
8. Scuderia Toro Rosso €750,000-€1m
9. Manor €650,000
10. Sauber €400,000 

Zdroj: crash.net