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F1 and NASCAR are two of the most famous four-wheeler racing series in the world and are watched by millions of fans across the globe. While Formula 1 hosts races on various continents, NASCAR is limited to the US.
Drivers in both these sports are some of the most talented athletes in the world. However, when their annual earnings are compared, there is a massive difference.
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the top five most lucrative contract earnings in F1 and NASCAR:
Comparing the top 5 most profitable driver contract earnings in F1 and NASCAR
#1 Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari contract vs Jeff Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports contract
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Lewis Hamilton currently holds the most lucrative contract in F1 history. He recently signed with Ferrari for the 2025 F1 season. According to reports from Planet F1, the seven-time world champion's contract with the Italian giants is allegedly worth over $400,000,000. However, the length of the contract is still unknown.
When it comes to looking at one of the most profitable driver contracts in NASCAR, Jeff Gordon tops the list. He signed a lifetime contract with Hendrick Motorsports in 2000 which saw him earn a hefty salary per year and a stake in the No. 24 team as an equity partner. He is currently the vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports. During his driving days, his annual earnings were reportedly around $20,000,000.
Since Gordon raced for the same team his entire life, his total earnings from the lifetime contract are speculated to be around $520,000,000 according to Celebrity Net Worth.
#2 Michael Schumacher's Ferrari contract vs Dale Earnheart Jr.'s Hendrick Motorsports contract
Michael Schumacher is arguably the most recognizable face and name in F1. The German F1 driver is also synonymous with Ferrari since he won five of his seven world championships with the Italian team. After winning two championships with Benetton, Schumacher moved to Ferrari where he was offered a two-year contract reportedly worth $60,000,000 (over the life of the contract).
Schumacher extended his contract at Ferrari and raced with the team till the end of the 2006 season. From 1996 to 2006, he reportedly earned around $30,000,000 to $40,000,000 per year (according to Forbes), making it the second-most lucrative contract in F1 history.
On the other hand, the second-most profitable contract in NASCAR was Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s when he joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. According to Forbes, his annual salary bumped up to $30,000,000 and since it was a five-year contract at first, Dale Jr.'s total earnings were estimated at around $150,000,000.
#3 Max Verstappen's Red Bull contract vs Jimmie Johnson's Hendrick Motorsports contract
Soon after winning his first F1 world championship in 2021, Max Verstappen signed a massive five-year contract with Red Bull in 2022, which came into effect in 2023. Verstappen reportedly earns $55,000,000 as his base salary according to Celebrity Net Worth. The total earnings from this contract are estimated to be around $275,000,000 since the contract is valid until 2028.
The third-most lucrative contract in NASCAR was Jimmie Johnson's with Hendrick Motorsports. The American racing driver stayed with the team for most of his NASCAR career but received a major bump in annual salary when he extended his contract with the team from 2010 to 2015. Though the financial details were not revealed, he was reportedly earning around $20,000,000 per year (according to Forbes). Since this was a five-year contract, Johnson earned up to $100,000,000.
#4 Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari contract vs Tony Stewart's Stewart-Haas Racing contract
Back in 2006, Kimi Raikkonen was one of the hottest properties in the F1 driver market. Ferrari offered a massive three-year contract to lure the 'Ice-Man' into their team. According to Celebrity Net Worth, his peak salary was reportedly well over $51,000,000 per season, including bonuses.
On the other hand, the fourth-most profitable contract in NASCAR was between Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing. Stewart left Joe Gibbs Racing after 2008 to join Haas and co-owned the team, acquiring a 50% stake in the team. Though his annual salary was reportedly around $19,000,000 to $20,000,000 (according to Forbes), Stewart's stake in the team made the contract much more lucrative.
#5 Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari contract vs Kevin Harvick's Stewart-Haas Racing contract
After Sebastian Vettel won his four consecutive F1 world championships with Red Bull, he was lured by Ferrari in 2015. The Italian giants reportedly offered Vettel a massive three-year contract worth around $40,000,000 per year according to Forbes. This was another massive signing from Ferrari who were aiming to go back to the top.
In contrast, the fifth-most lucrative driver contract in NASCAR was when Kevin Harvick joined Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014. He also signed a contract extension with the team in 2016, further solidifying his partnership with them.
Though official financial figures of the contract are still under wraps, he reportedly earned around $13,000,000 per season in 2018 and 2019 according to Celebrity Net Worth. He had the fifth-most profitable contract in NASCAR with Stewart-Haas Racing during his peak years in the sport.
