Formula 1 drivers entering the 2025 season must pay substantial fees to the FIA for their mandatory Super Licences. These licenses, issued by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), are essential for competing in F1 races and ensure that drivers meet rigorous standards of skill, experience, and safety.
For the 2025 season, the FIA's fee structure is based on drivers' performance in the previous year. Each driver must pay a standard base fee, set at €11,453 (approximately $12,097), regardless of their championship position or points earned.
Additionally, drivers incur extra charges based on the number of championship points they secured during the previous season. The FIA charges an additional €2,313 ($2,443) per point scored, making it a potentially expensive commitment for the highest-performing drivers.
Max Verstappen, the reigning World Champion, tops the list of Super Licence fees for 2025. With an impressive 437 points secured during the 2024 season, Verstappen's total fee amounts to approximately $1,079,448.
Interestingly, despite this hefty sum, Verstappen's fee has actually decreased compared to the previous year, when he paid $1,286,324. This reduction reflects the fact he scored fewer points in 2024 compared to his record-breaking 2023 campaign.
Lando Norris, who experienced a standout 2024 season finishing second with 374 points, faces a significant fee increase. Norris will pay around $925,779—almost double his previous year's fee of $465,510—highlighting the financial implications of improved performance.
Charles Leclerc, another prominent contender, will pay $881,805 after earning 361 points in 2024. Similarly, Oscar Piastri, following an impressive breakout year with 297 points, must cover a fee totaling $725,453.
The list continues with substantial amounts for other drivers based on their 2024 championship results:
Carlos Sainz: $720,567
George Russell: $610,632
Lewis Hamilton: $556,886
Sergio Perez: $383,433
Fernando Alonso: $183,107
Pierre Gasly: $114,703
Nico Hulkenberg: $112,260
Yuki Tsunoda: $85,387
Lance Stroll: $70,729
Esteban Ocon: $68,286
Alex Albon: $41,413
Oliver Bearman: $29,198
Liam Lawson: $21,869
At the lower end, drivers who scored no points during the 2024 season, such as rookies Jack Doohan, Kimi Antonelli, and Gabriel Bortoleto, will pay only the base fee of $12,097.
These Super Licence fees represent more than administrative expenses—they serve as a structured method by which successful drivers financially support the operational and safety costs associated with Formula 1 governance.
Essentially, the more successful a driver is, the greater their contribution to maintaining the sport's high standards and global presence.
This fee structure underlines the competitive nature of Formula 1, where excellence is financially rewarded but also comes at a substantial cost, adding another layer of pressure and expectation onto the drivers each season.