Alonso is F1's highest earner
2010-08-20 10:06
Fernando Alonso is by far the highest paid active Grand Prix driver, according to reports in the Spanish press.
The El Mundo report, citing information from Business Book GP, compiled a list showing that Alonso's annual Ferrari retainer - excluding external endorsements - is €30m.
That is almost double the next largest retainer, owned by 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton, at €16m, although it is believed Kimi Raikkonen is being paid a similar amount this year due to Ferrari's breach of contract.
Felipe Massa comes in at third with €14m, meaning the Brazilian is paid less than half the income of his Ferrari teammate.
Reigning world champion Jenson Button is reportedly paid €9m; significantly less than his McLaren teammate, but more than seven time world champion Michael Schumacher (€8m).
Mercedes also pays Nico Rosberg €8m, which is marginally more than Robert Kubica's €7.5m.
Interestingly, Rubens Barrichello (€5.5m) earns more than Mark Webber (€4.2m), but Sebastian Vettel's 2010 retainer is reportedly just €2m.
According to the list, Red Bull's Vettel is therefore paid less than Lotus driver Jarno Trulli (€3m), and approximately the same as Trulli's teammate Heikki Kovalainen.
Timo Glock earns €1m by driving for Virgin; more than the €700 000 reportedly paid to Williams rookie Nico Hulkenberg.
Also earning less than €1m are the Sauber drivers (€500 000 each), Vitaly Petrov, Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi (€400,000), and the Force India drivers and Lucas di Grassi (€200 000).
Bruno Senna is reportedly the lowest paid active driver, with a €150 000 retainer; 200 times less than Alonso.
