Max Verstappen retains his status as Formula 1's highest-earning driver, according to RacingNews365 estimates.

Lewis Hamilton, for so long the top earner in F1, is now trailing Verstappen. His 2024 salary comes from the Mercedes contract that he signed last summer, but this will be his final year with the team before joining Ferrari (and receiving a pay rise) in 2025.

Charles Leclerc's new Ferrari deal - signed in advance of the 2024 season - now makes him the third highest earner.

And Lando Norris' new McLaren contract, also penned in the early weeks of 2024, makes him fourth highest.

Mercedes' George Russell and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso are joint-fifth.

Notably at the other end of the list sits RB's Yuki Tsunoda and Williams' Logan Sargeant.

A bumper silly season is expected during 2024 because so many current drivers will see their contracts expire at the end of the year, meaning they can seek a new deal elsewhere.

Mercedes' vacancy to replace Hamilton, and the possibility of Red Bull ditching Sergio Perez to find a new driver, create two big-money opportunities.

F1 drivers earn a basic salary, displayed in the list above, but can also pocket bonuses for race wins and championships.

Meaning Verstappen's pay packet will be substantially bigger than his $55m basic salary.

In 2023, Forbes estimated that Verstappen's earnings totalled $70m including bonuses.

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