This came as his first season with Ferrari drew to a close following a high-profile move to the Maranello-based team in January.

Despite the flashy accessory, Hamilton’s season results were underwhelming.

He failed to secure a single podium finish and ended sixth in the drivers’ championship.

Contrasting Styles on the Grid

While Hamilton’s watch commanded attention with its $2.3 million price tag, other drivers chose markedly different styles.

World champion Lando Norris celebrated his maiden title wearing a Richard Mille worth $470,000 (£350,000), a fraction of Hamilton’s watch cost.

Max Verstappen, who is known for aligning with Red Bull’s sponsors, opted for a Tag Heuer priced at just $6,600 (£5,000).

The contrast highlighted the different approaches drivers take to style and branding.

F1 Drivers’ Earnings in 2025

Even though Hamilton struggled on track, his earnings remained substantial.

According to Forbes, Verstappen topped the 2025 F1 earnings list with $76 million, including salary and bonuses, despite not yet factoring in a world championship bonus.

Hamilton came in second with $70.5 million, a figure reflecting his first year at Ferrari.

Newly-crowned champion Norris secured third place with $57.5 million.

The list of top-earning drivers for 2025 shows the wide disparity in salaries and bonuses across teams.

F1 Driver Salaries and Bonuses 2025

• Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing: $65 million salary, $11 million bonus
• Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari: $70 million salary, $0.5 million bonus
• Lando Norris, McLaren: $18 million salary, $39.5 million bonus
• Oscar Piastri, McLaren: $10 million salary, $27.5 million bonus
• Charles Leclerc, Ferrari: $30 million salary, $0 bonus
• Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin: $24 million salary, $2.5 million bonus
• George Russell, Mercedes: $15 million salary, $11 million bonus
• Lance Stroll, Aston Martin: $12 million salary, $1.5 million bonus
• Carlos Sainz, Williams: $10 million salary, $3 million bonus
• Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes: $5 million salary, $7.5 million bonus

Lewis Hamilton’s Net Worth

Beyond his F1 salary, Hamilton’s overall net worth reflects decades of high-profile success.

Estimates suggest that Hamilton’s net worth exceeds $300 million, combining earnings from racing, endorsements, and other business ventures.

Major sponsors, fashion collaborations, and investments in lifestyle and tech companies have contributed significantly to his fortune.

Hamilton’s off-track income rivals some of the highest earners in global sports, cementing his position as one of the wealthiest drivers in history.

Even in a season without podium finishes, Hamilton’s financial and style status remains unmatched.

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The Australian driver underlined that supporting his team is more important than personal gain, even when it comes at a cost in the championship standings.

Costly Error at Monza

Norris lost significant time during a routine stop when a mechanic struggled to secure his front-left tire.

The delay allowed Piastri to overtake his teammate in the closing stages of the race.

However, McLaren soon intervened, instructing the 23-year-old to hand the position back.

Although initially hesitant, Piastri complied with the order, sacrificing what would have been a six-point swing against Norris in the standings.

“Putting Yourself Second”

Speaking after the race, Piastri said the decision was the right one.

“We’ve said many times that we don’t want the chance of success just for this year,” he explained.

“There’s a big regulation change next year – we don’t know how competitive we’re going to be, and we don’t know how competitive anyone’s going to be.”

He emphasized that his and Norris’s long-term futures at McLaren meant that prioritizing the health of the team was vital.

“Protecting the people around us that give us this opportunity is a very important thing,” he said.

“It’s easy enough to put yourself second at times like that.”

Norris Had the Edge

Piastri also pointed out that Norris had been quicker throughout the race, making it easier to justify the decision.

“If we were fighting very closely for the whole race, then it’s slightly different, but Lando was ahead by a few seconds the whole race, so there’s no concern for me with that,” he explained.

The Australian added that he had “no concern” in correcting the misfortune caused by the pit stop error.

Protecting the Team

Addressing the mechanic’s mistake directly, Piastri highlighted the emotional toll errors can take on team members.

“Protecting the people, that includes the people doing the pit stops… It’s not a very nice feeling, I would imagine,” he said.

“It’s important to protect all the people that we have because that’s what gives us a championship hope for years to come.”

With both drivers signed to long-term deals at McLaren and major regulation changes looming, Piastri’s comments reflect a broader strategy of prioritizing harmony over short-term rivalry.

The message was clear: McLaren’s best chance at sustained success lies in unity, even in the face of difficult in-race decisions.

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Screenshots circulating on social media reveal passionate pleas for “fair treatment” after Oscar Piastri’s run of three straight wins propelled the Australian past his team-mate in both victories and points.

One message, typical of the tone, declared:
“As a long-time supporter of McLaren and an admirer of your legacy in motorsport, I feel compelled to express my profound disappointment and frustration regarding the recent treatment of Lando Norris, both internally and publicly.”

A Championship Tightrope

Piastri leads the standings on 131 points, with Norris close behind on 115 and Max Verstappen a further 16 adrift. The sudden shift has sparked inevitable questions about when McLaren will choose a de-facto number one to maximise its drivers’ championship hopes. Senior figures insist both racers remain free to fight – but history shows prolonged intra-team rivalry can lose titles as quickly as it wins them.

From Underdogs to Pace-Setters

Rewind twelve months and McLaren were still clawing back ground on Red Bull. A late-season surge secured their first constructors’ crown since 1998, with Norris clinging to P2 in the drivers’ race while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc threatened to spoil the party. That momentum has carried into 2025: the MCL40 has emerged as the class of the field, toppling Red Bull’s long-standing aerodynamic advantage at circuits as varied as Bahrain, Miami and Saudi Arabia.

Fan Frustration Boils Over

Norris remains in the best competitive position of his career, yet sections of the McLaren fanbase view recent strategy calls as subtly favouring Piastri. Complaints cite perceived under-cuts, tyre-choice debates and radio messages that appeared to shift priority away from the Briton once Piastri seized the championship lead. McLaren’s communications department has so far declined to comment, a choice interpreted by some supporters as tacit acknowledgement that team orders could surface later in the calendar. Behind the scenes, insiders maintain any disparities stem from on-track scenarios, not a deliberate tilt toward the Australian.

Balancing Two Title Shots

Team principal Andrea Stella faces the classic headache: back one driver early and risk alienating the other, or let them race and risk splitting points while rivals close in. With Oscar Piastri matching Ayrton Senna, Mika Häkkinen and Alain Prost as the only McLaren scorers of three consecutive wins, pressure is mounting to build the campaign around the 23-year-old. Yet Norris, 25, remains only 16 points adrift and has already claimed a season-opening triumph in Melbourne.

No Response, All Focus on Imola

Neither Norris nor Piastri has publicly addressed the wave of emails, preferring to concentrate on Sunday’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Engineers are set to debut a lighter floor in search of extra downforce through Imola’s rapid direction changes, while the drivers refine qualifying trim in simulator sessions.

The team knows it must keep harmony intact to fend off a resurgent Mercedes and whatever upgrades Red Bull unveils in Europe.

The Road Ahead

McLaren’s renaissance has delivered a car capable of sweeping both championships, but that same pace has amplified scrutiny of every tactical nuance. Whether the squad eventually designates a lead driver or allows an in-house duel, the torrent of passionate emails underscores how fiercely fans invest in Norris’s success.

The challenge for Woking is to harness that energy without letting it fracture a partnership that, so far, has pushed the team back to the sport’s summit.

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The McLaren driver showcased his skill by navigating a late rain shower that threatened to derail his race, but ultimately emerged victorious. However, while Norris celebrated his success on the track, off-track developments involving his father, Adam Norris, sparked curiosity in the paddock.

McLaren Dominates in Melbourne

McLaren demonstrated superior pace throughout the weekend, making them the team to beat in Melbourne. While Norris clinched victory, his teammate Oscar Piastri had a more challenging race, finishing in ninth place after an unfortunate mistake sent him spinning onto the grass. Despite this setback, McLaren’s overall performance solidified their status as early championship contenders.

Both drivers are secured with long-term contracts at McLaren, ensuring stability for the team. Piastri recently signed a multi-year contract extension, while Norris also committed to the team with a fresh deal in 2024. This continuity provides McLaren with a strong foundation as they aim to challenge for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.

Adam Norris’ Meeting with Ferrari Boss Raises Eyebrows

While his son was making headlines on the track, Adam Norris caught attention in the paddock for an entirely different reason. The businessman and father of the McLaren star was spotted engaging in discussions with Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, raising speculation about the nature of their conversation.

Norris Sr., a successful entrepreneur and founder of the e-scooter brand Pure Electric, has long been an influential figure in his son’s career. In a lighthearted moment captured on Instagram by F1 paddock photographer Kym Illman, Norris Sr. and Vasseur posed for a playful photo, with the Ferrari boss sticking his tongue out for the camera.

Illman later revealed that Norris Sr. had visited the Ferrari motorhome, where he reportedly grabbed a decaf coffee—an amusing detail considering McLaren’s hospitality area apparently does not serve the de-caffeinated option. It was during this visit that he was seen catching up with Vasseur, further fueling speculation about what their meeting could mean.

What Could This Mean for Norris’ Future?

Although there is no immediate indication that Lando Norris is considering a move away from McLaren, his father’s meeting with Ferrari’s team principal has naturally sparked speculation. Ferrari endured a difficult weekend in Melbourne, making it possible that Vasseur was simply exchanging pleasantries with Norris Sr. rather than engaging in any serious discussions about a potential move.

For now, Norris remains committed to McLaren, and with their recent surge in performance, there appears to be no immediate reason for him to seek a switch. However, in the unpredictable world of Formula 1, such interactions always invite intrigue, especially when involving a high-profile driver’s father and a rival team boss.

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Despite interest from Red Bull and Mercedes last year, Norris, 24, opted to solidify his allegiance to McLaren after securing seven podium finishes.

The unexpected announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s forthcoming switch to Ferrari for the upcoming season would have presented an opening for Norris to join George Russell at Mercedes.

However, with Norris’s existing contract extending until the conclusion of 2025, there was no immediate pressure for him to prolong his commitment for an additional year.

READ: Sergio Perez admits he’s keeping an eye on Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari

When questioned about any misgivings regarding his contract extension in light of Hamilton’s surprising move, Norris expressed contentment, stating to RaceFans.net:

“I’m very happy. I could have waited, I had the choice. I knew opportunities were potentially coming my way.”

He continued, “I’m confident in my team, I’m confident in what we’ve been able to achieve and what we can achieve going into the future and I’m very happy with where I am.”

Despite his consistent performance with McLaren, including 13 podium finishes over five seasons, Norris is yet to secure a race victory.

Reflecting on McLaren’s progress, Norris acknowledged, “We had a decent car at the end of last season and I think we’ve definitely taken some steps in the right direction.”

READ: David Coulthard discloses what Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez told him

However, he also noted the team’s substantial gap behind Red Bull and Ferrari, indicating the necessity for continued efforts to improve their competitiveness.

He concluded optimistically, “So there’s plenty of work for us to still try and achieve.

But also plenty of things that we’ve learned over the last few days (during testing) for us to implement before next week (when the season begins in Bahrain).”

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1870340/Lando-Norris-McLaren-Mercedes-F1-news

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Whilst Hamilton is only just at the start of a new two-year contract, the 39-year-old is very much in the latter stages of his career.

In just two years’ time, F1 could be preparing for a championship without the seven-time World Champion, something which last happened in 2006.

The UK has always been a powerhouse in F1, with the nation typically having a driver in the title fight every season.

READ: Lewis Hamilton warned to stop crying ‘too much’

There are two other British drivers currently on the F1 grid, George Russell and Lando Norris, but which of the two are more likely to be Hamilton’s heir.

It’s very difficult to say, as the pair have endured drastically different F1 journeys so far.

Starting with Russell, the King’s Lynn-born star entered F1 in 2019 – as did Norris – after winning the 2018 Formula 2 title.

He was a Mercedes junior driver at the time but wasn’t promoted straight into the Silver Arrows; instead, he entered F1 with Williams who were the slowest team on the grid.

Russell learnt the ropes of F1 at the back of the grid, before he started to develop an understanding on how to not only lead a team but how to extract the most from a package.

Despite having a poor car for three seasons, Russell progressed to Q3 on several occasions, scored regular points and even featured on the podium.

Ahead of the 2022 season, he finally got promoted to Mercedes and rewarded them for their trust that year, as he became just the third teammate of Hamilton’s to defeat him in the standings.

Russell stunned everyone in 2022, before normal service resumed last year, where Hamilton scored 59 points more than the 26-year-old.

Despite the points difference, their pace was very similar and Russell has proven that he has what it takes to claim pole and victory, something he has done for Mercedes.

The general expectation is that he will become Mercedes’ leader when Hamilton retires but will he be the UK’s lead driver?

Norris could very well take that accolade from Hamilton, as the 24-year-old has built in stature every season since joining McLaren in 2019.

Norris’ career path is very similar to Hamilton’s so far, in that the start of his career has been spent with the Woking-based team.

He is very much their lead driver and is seen by many as someone who could take the fight to Max Verstappen in 2024, although he’s yet to show if he’s got the ability to win races.

READ: Fernando Alonso reveals huge Aston Martin worry

On the few occasions when he’s come close to victory, an error has often been made by Norris.

Despite this, his pace is exceptional and he’s effectively led McLaren’s rebuild, so why can’t he lead the UK in F1?

Both Russell and Norris have their strengths and weaknesses but they now have two seasons to become the best driver they can to replace Hamilton.

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2023 was a strange yet exceptional year for Norris, as he ended the campaign as one of the fastest drivers on the grid.

The same couldn’t be said at the beginning of last season, as McLaren entered the 2023 championship with one of the weakest cars on the grid.

Norris was often towards the back in the opening rounds, as he couldn’t use his full potential in what was initially a poor car.

READ: Lewis Hamilton warned to stop crying ‘too much’

However, when McLaren introduced a significant upgrades package to the MCL60 at the Austrian Grand Prix, everything changed.

He suddenly became a regular podium finisher and was really Max Verstappen’s biggest threat on several occasions, particularly at the British Grand Prix.

Norris heroically led the opening laps of his home race, before he was overtaken by the three-time World Champion.

Had it not been for McLaren starting 2023 with a bad car, Norris would’ve likely challenged Sergio Perez for second in the Drivers’ Championship.

Whilst he was stellar last year, one thing which was notable is how often he spoke negatively about himself in front of cameras.

Norris was very open whenever he was annoyed with himself, both with reporters and with his team.

The 24-year-old revealed that he learnt last season that he preferred it when the Woking-based side were “honest” with him, even if the truth was “brutal”.

He simply just wanted complete honesty from McLaren last year both when things went well and when they went badly, although he admits this isn’t “always easy to do”.

READ: What is happening with Carlos Sainz?

“There’s a lot of things that I’ve learned from a driving perspective and teamwork perspective. For example, even more openness, I think we put quite a bit of effort in as a team in this area,” Norris told the official McLaren website.

“When working with my engineers, in terms of being very open with one another, that is not something new or something I have only just learned, it is something I have always done and continue to do.

“I just prefer the honest truth. I would rather have the brutal, honest truth. If I suck, tell me I suck. If I’m good, tell me I’m good. It is not always easy to do, but it is very important, and we will continue to do this to teach and help other people.”

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Norris has been linked with a move to Red Bull for some time, with himself and Verstappen having both admitted previously that they’d like to be team-mates in the future.

However, the chances of that happening now are very slim, following McLaren’s recent announcement that Norris has signed a “multi-year” contract extension.

The British driver is now set to enter the new power regulations in 2026 with the Woking-based team, meaning Red Bull will have to look elsewhere for a suitable partner for Verstappen.

READ: Charles Leclerc picked as shock Lewis Hamilton replacement

Verstappen is currently in the form of his life and is simply too much for Sergio Perez to deal with.

He’s won a staggering 34 races since the start of 2022 alone, whilst Red Bull have been victorious 38 times in the last two years.

The three-time World Champion has made Red Bull a fortress, just like Sebastian Vettel did just over a decade ago.

Verstappen is so comfortable at Red Bull that he can make the impossible seem possible, potentially because “everything is built up around him”, according to Norris.

Any driver currently on the grid wouldn’t want to be alongside the 26-year-old currently, with Norris believing that even the Verstappen of a few years ago wouldn’t beat the current version of himself.

He is so settled at Red Bull that it’s a ridiculous challenge for someone to partner him and instantly perform, to the extent that switching to the Austrians isn’t a “smart move”.

“It’s a longer discussion than saying that,” Norris told Sky Sports. “Is Max Verstappen the best driver in Formula One history? Absolutely yes, I think he’s proved that well enough.

“He’s in a team that he’s very comfortable in. Everything is built up around him. For anyone – even for the Max of a few years ago – to go up against the Max of now, it’s extremely difficult.

READ: What is happening with Carlos Sainz?

“I don’t think it’s a question of, ‘Are you scared [to drive alongside Verstappen]?’ I don’t think I’ll ever be scared of going against anyone. Even if you’re in a team, are you in a position to challenge someone straight away? Are you comfortable doing that? I think it’s a no for any driver.

“It takes time to adapt and it takes time to get things into place. If you want to go against the best driver in the world, it’s not the best thing to do. It’s not a smart move to do.

“But I would love to race against Max, I’ve enjoyed some of the battles that we’ve had. I’m even more looking forward to the battles that we’re going to have this year.”

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Brown has effectively labelled Norris as priceless, meaning that the Briton is all but certain to see how the remainder of his contract.

Norris is under contract until the end of 2025, meaning he could move to Red Bull for free when the new power unit regulations are introduced in 2026.

Switching to Red Bull for 2026 is seen by many as a huge risk for Norris, given that the Austrians have never supplied their own power units before.

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Nevertheless, the British driver has been linked to Red Bull several times now over the last few years, with him having admitted that he’d like to be team-mates with Max Verstappen one day.

For that to happen, he’ll need to complete a huge move to the reigning Constructors Champions’, as Verstappen is under contract until the end of 2028.

It doesn’t matter how much Red Bull throw at McLaren, the Woking-based team aren’t prepared to let Norris leave for any figure.

Brown was asked whether Norris would be worth £100 million in the football transfer market, with the American admitting that even if Red Bull offered a nine-figure sum, the 24-year-old isn’t going anywhere.

“I don’t know enough about soccer to know what the economics are!” Brown joked to Sky Sports.

“He’s quite a valuable racing driver, a great asset to the racing team.

“There is no number that we would be interested in trading him for.”

With Norris being one of the quickest and most consistent drivers in the paddock – he claimed seven podiums in the space of 11 races last year – McLaren are going to do whatever they can to retain him for the new engine regulations.

READ: Sergio Perez not the ‘right option’ for Alpine

This will ultimately mean a bumper pay rise presumably; however, Brown is insistent that the team are in a financial position where “anything” can be achieved.

“The resources we have now are exactly where we need to be,” Brown added.

“Resources will not hold us back from achieving anything we need to achieve, drivers included.”

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The point of Norris and Leclerc competing with Verstappen was raised by ex-Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan, who revealed that if he owned a team today and couldn’t sign Verstappen, then he’d want Leclerc alongside Norris.

Jordan thinks the Ferrari driver is Verstappen’s “one challenger”, with the Irishman not being able to “trust” Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to “keep up” with the reigning World Champion.

Hamilton and Alonso have nine titles between them; however, they also have a combined age of 81 years.

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When you compare that to Leclerc’s and Norris’ combined age of 50, it certainly suggests that perhaps Hamilton and Alonso are past their prime.

Whilst the two veterans are still exceptional drivers and can compete for victories if given the right car, they aren’t going to become better drivers, realistically.

Unlike Norris and Leclerc, who are more likely to further improve, because they are in their mid-20s.

“I only see one challenger for Max and that is Charles Leclerc,’ Jordan told Auto Bild.

“If I had a top team now and didn’t get Max, there would only be one driver pairing that would be able to take on the fight with Verstappen – Leclerc and, as a teammate, Lando Norris.

“I simply no longer trust Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, although they are well-deserved champions, to be able to keep up with Verstappen because of their age,” Jordan added.

Marko accepts that both Leclerc and Norris are “exceptional talents”, but he believes that “consistency” is their weakness.

Leclerc in particular was very inconsistent in 2023, whereas Norris struggled in the first half of last season before thriving from the Austrian Grand Prix onwards, when McLaren introduced a huge upgrade.

The Red Bull advisor sees no reason to fear either driver because he’s confident Verstappen “will get even better”, given that he is the same age as Leclerc.

READ: Max Verstappen beating Red Bull in a McLaren ‘impossible’

Worryingly for the paddock, Marko is convinced that the Dutchman “is not yet at his limit”.

“Leclerc and Norris are certainly exceptional talents,” said Marko. “But both have shown weaknesses in consistency in the past.

“In addition, Max is not yet at his limit. He will get even better. It is our job to provide him with a car that is as good as the one in 2023. Then he will be the benchmark again.”

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