5 times F1 teams paid drivers (feat. Daniel Ricciardo) to not race for them

F1 drivers are some of the best-paid athletes in the world of sports and can regularly be found on the highest-paid lists at the end of the year. They usually earn their money by signing contracts with the F1 teams that could be included in several aspects apart from their base fee such as race win bonuses and podium bonuses etc.

However, there have been a few instances when F1 teams have paid their drivers to not race for them in a full season and gave them compensation for that period. Below is the list 5 times when such an event has occurred:

#1 Daniel Ricciardo - McLaren F1

Daniel Ricciardo announced in 2020 that he would leave Renault after two years to join McLaren in 2021 on a three-year deal. However, he was unable to replicate his performances with the Woking-based outfit as many had anticipated.

Despite bringing in the British team's first race win in close to a decade at Monza, McLaren decided to cancel Ricciardo's contract at the end of 2022, a year early, due to his poor performances. According to reports, the Papaya Orange team paid around $18 million in compensation to the Aussie to sit out the 2023 season.

#2 Giedo Van Der Garde - Sauber

Giedo van der Garde at the 2014 Grand Prix of Canada - Source: Getty

The Dutchman had multiple stints as a reserve driver in F1 before having his sole season in 2013 with Caterham. In 2014, van der Garde decided to join Sauber as a reserve and test driver and announced mid-season that he would be the team's one of two nominated drivers for the following year.

However, the Hinwil-based outfit did not honor the deal and went for Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr as its full-time drivers for 2015. The Dutch driver took the matter to the courts and was eventually given significant compensation by Sauber to end the contract by "mutual consent".

#3 Nigel Mansell - Ferrari

Nigel Mansell during the San Marino Grand Prix on 23rd April 1989 at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, San Marino - Source: Getty

Nigel Mansell raced for the Ferrari F1 team for two years in 1989 and 1990 seasons and scored three race wins for them. His exit from the Italian team is part of racing folklore given that he announced his retirement from the sport in the middle of 1990 after the Maranello-based outfit gave his teammate Alain Prost the "No.1" status.

To part amicably, Ferrari paid significant compensation to Mansell in 1991, when he raced for Williams F1 with a contract of over $5.5m.

#4 Alain Prost - Ferrari

Alain Prost during the Grand Prix of Hungary on 12th August 1990 at the Hungaroring Circuit, Budapest, Hungary- Source: Getty

Just like his ex-teammate Mansell, Alain Prost too faced the same fate at the Italian team in 1992, when he was paid to sit out the season. After a winless 1991 campaign, the French driver made the cardinal sin of publicly criticizing the Prancing Horses which led to him getting fired for the following year.

He was reportedly given an undisclosed amount to not race for Ferrari in 1992. Prost eventually joined Williams in 1993 after Nigel Mansell announced his retirement from F1.

#5 Kimi Raikkonen- Ferrari

Kimi Raikkonen during F1 testing at the Bahrain International Circuit on March 1, 2007 - Source: Getty

After bringing two championships in as many years in his first two years to Ferrari (driver's title in 2007 and constructors in 2008), the Finnish driver decided to sit out the 2010 and 2011 seasons after the Italian team signed Fernando Alonso to partner alongside Felipe Massa.

Although it is unclear how much the Maranello-based outfit paid Kimi Raikkonen to not race for them in the following two years, it would have been a hefty amount as the Finn appeared third in the 2010's highest-paid driver's list despite not competing in a single event.