Top F1 drivers face million-euro super licence fees.

      The fees are imposed by the FIA.

      The FIA's super licence charges for 2026 are pushing some of the sport's top drivers to exceed the million-euro milestone. Every F1 driver is required to renew their super licence each year, with the cost directly linked to the World Championship points accumulated in the previous season. The fee structure is straightforward yet harsh – an initial fee of EUR 11,842, plus an additional EUR 2,392 for each point earned.

      For the current world champion Lando Norris, who scored 423 points in 2025, the McLaren driver faces a bill just over a million euros – the highest in the lineup. Max Verstappen follows closely with a fee of EUR 1,018,874 after a 421-point season. Verstappen still holds the record for the highest payment, having paid over EUR 1.2 million for his licence in 2024 after an impressive 575 points the previous year.

      Oscar Piastri narrowly avoids breaking the million-euro barrier, with his 2025 score leading to a fee of EUR 999,562. These payments are set by the FIA, and while the amounts might seem staggering, it is generally understood that teams often cover these expenses. Additionally, super licence fees are not included in Formula 1's budget cap, meaning there is no direct impact on development programs resulting from a successful season.

      Drivers such as George Russell (EUR 774,890) and Charles Leclerc (EUR 590,706) also have significant fees, while those with less successful seasons, including Lewis Hamilton (EUR 384,994) and Fernando Alonso (EUR 145,794), remain well below the upper echelon of costs.