Lewis Hamilton will be going for a record-breaking eighth Formula One world championship when the action gets underway in Bahrain on Sunday.
The 36-year-old won his seventh title last season, matching the all-time record of Michael Schumacher.
Fernando Alonso, the 39-year-old double world champion, is back on the grid with Alpine, while Schumacher's son Mick competes in his debut season for Haas.
Above is a photo gallery of the drivers in Formula One and their annual salaries for the 2021 F1 season, according to spotrac, an online sports team and player contract website.
To move on to the next image, click on the arrows, or if you're using a mobile device, simply swipe.
Who is Formula One's highest paid driver?
Lewis Hamilton is by far the best-paid driver in Formula One, with the Mercedes star earning an annual salary of $55,000,000, according to spotrac.com.
The British driver has won seven F1 titles, and will be going for a record eighth in 2021.
The 20 F1 drivers and their salaries
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) $55,000,000
2. Fernando Alonso (Alpine), $20,500,000
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) $19,130,000
4. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) $17,000,000
4= Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) $17,000,000
6. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) $11,000,000
6= Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) $11,000,000
8. Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo), $7,525,000
9. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) $6,841,000
10. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) $4,652,000
11. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) $3,420,000
12. Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) $1,915,000
12= Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) $1,915,000
12= Lando Norris (McLaren) $1,915,000
15. Nicholas Latifi (Williams) $958,000
15= George Russell (Williams) $958,000
Nikita Mazepin (Haas) Not known
Mick Schumacher (Haas) Not known
Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri) Not known
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
Company Profile
Company name: Big Farm Brothers
Started: September 2020
Founders: Vishal Mahajan and Navneet Kaur
Based: Dubai Investment Park 1
Industry: food and agriculture
Initial investment: $205,000
Current staff: eight to 10
Future plan: to expand to other GCC markets
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Kerb weight: 1580kg
Price: From Dh750k
On sale: via special order
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Top financial tips for graduates
Araminta Robertson, of the Financially Mint blog, shares her financial advice for university leavers:
1. Build digital or technical skills: After graduation, people can find it extremely hard to find jobs. From programming to digital marketing, your early twenties are for building skills. Future employers will want people with tech skills.
2. Side hustle: At 16, I lived in a village and started teaching online, as well as doing work as a virtual assistant and marketer. There are six skills you can use online: translation; teaching; programming; digital marketing; design and writing. If you master two, you’ll always be able to make money.
3. Networking: Knowing how to make connections is extremely useful. Use LinkedIn to find people who have the job you want, connect and ask to meet for coffee. Ask how they did it and if they know anyone who can help you. I secured quite a few clients this way.
4. Pay yourself first: The minute you receive any income, put about 15 per cent aside into a savings account you won’t touch, to go towards your emergency fund or to start investing. I do 20 per cent. It helped me start saving immediately.
