Adrian Newey surpasses most F1 Drivers: Top 10 Highest-Paid F1 Personnel in 2025

In 2024, we had two big surprises that happened in Formula 1. The first one is, as we all know, Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari after a 13-year stint with Mercedes. The second one was Adrian Newey leaving Red Bull and joining Aston Martin as managing technical partner. This role will allow him to design the upcoming Aston Martin F1 cars. 

As we all know, the 2026 F1 season will be very new, and it will be difficult for teams to adapt to the latest regulations. Having an experienced guy like Adrian Newey would help Aston Martin to overcome the difficulties in designing a car. But Aston Martin bought Adrian at a very high price, even higher than Fernando Alonso and many F1 drivers’ salaries. He is now among the Top 10 highest-paid F1 personnel in the 2025 grid. He is getting 20 million euros per year as salary from Aston Martin.

Here are the top 10 highest-paid F1 personnel in 2025

1. Max Verstappen

The world champion, Max Verstappen, will remain the highest-paid F1 personnel in 2025. Even if the car doesn't make a difference, Max will make the difference, and he is a valuable asset for the Red Bull team. Without him, the Austrian team's chances of winning a fifth world title are bleak. So they are paying him 52 million euros a year as salary.

2. Lewis Hamilton

No doubt, Lewis Hamilton is the biggest brand in Formula 1 and having him as a driver will boost the stake value of any team. Ferrari is already an established and well-known brand, but even they saw the impact of signing Hamilton. Ferrari shares skyrocketed, and their brand value went to an all-time high. After doing all these, Lewis is still modest and gets 48 million euros as salary.

3. Charles Leclerc

The Monacan driver has already established himself as one of the top contenders for the world championship. Apart from his outstanding driving skills, his charming looks established him as one of the marketable athletes in Formula 1. So he gets a salary of 27 million euros per year.

4. Adrian Newey

The only nondriver on the list is Adrian Newey. The British race designer is a man who has 12 constructors and 13 driver titles under his belt. Anything this man touches turns to gold, and that is why there was a huge competition among teams to sign him as a designer. 

Adrian Newey will reportedly earn £30 million per year at Aston Martin. 🤯#AdrianNewey #AstonMartin #F1 #Formula1 #SportsInfoXtreme pic.twitter.com/7uZOcRhOaO

— SportsInfo Xtreme (@Sportsinfo22073) March 5, 2025

Finally, Aston Martin convinced him to be their designer, and for that, he got 20 million euros as salary. It is high for a designer, but even Fernando Alonso has committed to reducing his salary to 10% to bring Adrian Newey into the AM camp.

5. Fernando Alonso

One of the all-time great drivers, Fernando Alonso, is the oldest driver on the grid. But even at this age, he is still the quickest driver in his team and comes among the top 5 drivers on the grid. Though he lessened his salary for Adrian Newey, he is still among the top paid in Formula 1. Alonso gets 16 million euros as salary. 

6. Lando Norris

The McLaren driver suddenly emerged as the top driver in the 2024 F1 season. The team is betting big on Lando Norris, as the McLaren is the fastest car on the grid. Norris gets paid very high, and he earns 16 million yearly as salary. 

7. George Russell

The British driver is now the number 1 at Mercedes after Lewis Hamilton’s departure. He is in a perfect time to become a world champion, as the 2026 regulations look favourable for the Mercedes team. He gets 12 million as a driver salary.

8. Carlos Sainz

One of the underrated drivers on the F1 grid is Carlos. His records prove that wherever he goes, he performs well. Let it be Torro Rosso, Renault, McLaren and Ferrari. Most F1 drivers like to be around Carlos Sainz, as he is one of the great personalities. Williams Racing grabbed the opportunity to sign him as a driver and is aiming to come back inside the Top 4 teams. Sainz will play a big role and gets paid around 8 million euros.

9. Pierre Gasly

Like Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly is also an underrated driver and is the biggest reason Alpine finished 6th last year on the constructor's table. He is consistent and always scores points compared with the other midfield drivers. He gets a salary of around 8 million euros.

10. Alex Albon

The British-Thai driver is also one of the consistent performers. He is also one of the most experienced drivers and likes to be quick. For his great contributions, Williams Racing is paying him 6 million euros as salary. 

Also Read: Australian Grand Prix winner list: From Sebastian Vettel to Carlos Sainz