Lewis Hamilton has been one of the most marketable drivers in Formula 1. He estimated to take around $50-55 million in salary from his contract with the Mercedes Formula 1 team. But is he the highest-paid driver in Formula 1 today?
Lewis Hamilton’s achievement cannot be understated. He is arguably the greatest driver to drive in Formula 1. If a driver’s name is compared to Hamilton, he has to be a multiple Championship winner. Lewis has won 7 World Championships and narrowly missed out on his 8th to Max Verstappen in 2021.
Since the 2022 season, Lewis Hamiltons’s team has been caught in the backfoot. The regulation changes for the year, did not complement Mercedes’s car. Since then, Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing have been dominating the sport.
Since Max has been winning, he has gotten a huge salary boost which has led fans to wonder if Lewis is still the highest-paid Formula 1 driver.
Is Lewis Hamilton’s salary higher than Max Verstappen’s?
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s salaries add up to over $100 million. However, Hamilton is not the highest-paid driver anymore. Since Max Verstappen’s first championship, his salary has gotten extremely high. Prior to the start of the 2022 season, Max Verstappen signed a new contract with Red Bull, extending his stay till the end of 2028.
This new contract of Max Verstappen’s is estimated to be worth around $55-60 million per year. This has put Max Verstappen above Lewis Hamilton in terms of salary. However, Hamilton is due to sign a new contract with Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes Boss Toto Wolff have been very vocal about their intentions to extend Lewis’s stay with the team. Hamilton’s potential new contract with Mercedes is allegedly the biggest Formula 1 contract to be offered to a driver. His current contract is set to expire after the end of the 2023 season.
Although Max Verstappen earns more than Lewis Hamilton in terms of salary, Lewis Hamilton’s net worth is more than Max Verstappen’s as it stands. It is estimated that Lewis Hamilton earns more from endorsements than Max Verstappen.
Why is Lewis Hamilton more marketable than Max Verstappen?
Lewis Hamilton is the most marketable driver on the grid. Even more than the reigning Champion, Max Verstappen. This is mainly due to Lewis Hamilton’s global brand. There are die-hard fans of Hamilton all over the globe. This cannot be said for Max Verstappen yet. Although Max is dominating the sport for now, he has not achieved the things Lewis has.
Lewis Hamilton’s personality also plays a role in his global image. In recent history, Lewis has been considered as the gentleman of the sport. He always posts positive messages on his social media. He also posts images and has a separate account for his dog, Roscoe, who everyone loves. Roscoe has made his occasional appearance in the Formula 1 paddock during race weekends.
Lewis Hamilton’s father also shows himself in the Mercedes garage from time to time to show his support to his son. Anthony Hamilton is also a very loving character. Anthony Hamilton and Lewis Hamilton were seen having an emotional moment after Lewis lost the World Championship to Max Verstappen.
These characteristics of Lewis Hamilton may seem small. But it makes a very big impact on the community. These are some of the reasons why Hamilton is the most marketable driver in Formula 1.