F1's Top Drivers Face Seven-Figure Super Licence Bills for 2026

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen will face seven-figure super licence bills for the 2026 F1 season, a direct consequence of their intense 2025 championship battle. Norris, who clinched the title, will pay the highest fee at over €1.02 million, just edging out Verstappen's €1.01 million bill. The cost is calculated based on a base fee plus a charge for every championship point scored the previous year.

Why it matters:

The super licence fees underscore the staggering financial scale of Formula 1, where even the cost of entry is tied directly to performance. For the drivers and their teams, these seven-figure sums are a significant operational expense, reflecting the immense value and pressure associated with competing at the front of the grid. It's a clear, monetary measure of a driver's success.

By the numbers:

The fee structure is simple: a base cost plus a per-point charge, leading to massive bills for the sport's most successful drivers.

• Lando Norris: 423 points → €1,023,658 (Highest on the grid)
• Max Verstappen: 421 points → €1,018,874 (Just €4,784 less than Norris)
• Oscar Piastri: 410 points → €992,562 (Just shy of the million mark)
• The Formula: The fee consists of a €11,842 base cost plus €2,392 for every point scored in 2025.
• Further Down the Grid: George Russell (€774,890) and Charles Leclerc (€590,706) also face substantial bills, while drivers who scored no points, like Franco Colapinto and Sergio Perez, only pay the base fee.

Looking Ahead:

These fees are an annual tradition in F1, serving as a financial post-mortem of the previous season. As teams and drivers finalize their 2026 preparations, these costs are already factored into their massive budgets. The real question now is whether Norris can defend his title and if Verstappen can mount a comeback to reclaim the top spot—and the biggest super licence bill—next year.