On the eve of the start of the Monaco Grand Prix weekend in Formula 1, Ferrari announced that Charles Leclerc will remain with the team for a few more seasons. However, few details were given about the agreement between both parties.
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The total duration of the new agreement was not detailed, and the financial specifications – as usual in the championship – also remain mere speculation.
However, one conclusion is hard to avoid: the Maranello team was already leading in paying drivers, and the renewal with Leclerc is expected to raise the total to another level never seen before.
By way of comparison, when Lewis Hamilton arrived in Maranello, his salary was estimated at €60 million. On the other hand, Charles was earning around €34 million, showing a difference between the competitors.
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It cannot be denied that when there is a contract extension of this nature, there is almost always a substantial salary increase, and estimates suggest that Leclerc could start earning €50 million per year. And if this is true, Ferrari becomes the first team in Formula 1 to pay combined salaries above €100 million.
For context, currently Red Bull holds the second position – unofficially – on this list, with a combined payment of €75 million between Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar – only the four-time world champion receives €70 million of that amount.
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