The start of the season gave fans a scene they'd been waiting for: Checo Pérez and Franco Colapinto sharing the grid. The difference is that while the Mexican is embarking on a new challenge with Cadillac, the Argentine is cutting his teeth at Alpine, and that's reflected in their salaries too.
According to a survey by Racing News 365, the driver from Guadalajara sits 12th on the salary list with 8 million euros a year, a number that puts him in the pack of experienced drivers. Colapinto, on the other hand, appears second-to-last alongside rookie Lindblad with a salary ranging between 500.000 and 1 million euros, a typical figure for a driver in his first full season.
The list is led by Max Verstappen with 70 million, followed by Lewis Hamilton who gets 60 million at Ferrari. Charles Leclerc and George Russell share third spot with 34 million each, while Lando Norris rounds out the top five with 30 million. The numbers show the hierarchy of champions and the investment teams make to keep their stars.
Checo's case is particular because after a year out of the category, he's back with Cadillac, a team that's betting big on his experience to lead the project. His 8 million salary puts him above drivers like Hülkenberg and Esteban Ocon, who earn 7 million, and also tops the 5 million his teammate Valtteri Bottas gets. At Alpine, Pierre Gasly is the highest paid with 12 million, while Colapinto sits at the lower end of the scale, a reflection of his rookie status and the team's budget structure.
The 22 year old Argentine is just starting his first full season after making his debut in 2024 with Williams and racing part of last year at Alpine. His contract reflects that status as a driver still developing, though he's already shown in the first races that he can fight with the experienced guys and even picked up his first point in China.
The salary gap between the two reflects how Formula 1 works. Teams reward track record and results. But it's also a sign that Colapinto's journey is just beginning. He's got room to grow and improve his numbers if he keeps up the performance. Checo, on the other hand, is in a different stage of his career, with years of experience and a résumé that backs up his contract.
The two Latinos have a great relationship in the paddock and get along well, but their financial realities are very different. It's a difference that comes down to years in the sport, the achievements they've racked up, and the role each one plays on his team.
Colapinto wants to get close to those numbers someday, but he knows he's got to establish himself in the category first