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Verstappen pays record fee for super licence with record number of points

09:29, 05 Nov 2022

byGPblog.com

You can only drive in Formula 1 if you hold a super licence. This special racing licence also imposes a special 'super licence tax' on F1 drivers that is calculated per F1 point achieved. So for Max Verstappen, there will be a hefty reckoning this year.

'F1 drivers can contribute more to their own safety'

In 2008, it was decided by former driver and then FIA president Max Mosley that the amount for the annual renewal of the super licence needed to go up significantly. In 2007, drivers were still paying 1725 euros annually, they were also charged 456 euros for every F1 point they gained. That fee was drastically increased the following year. From then on, drivers paid a whopping 10,400 euros a year and 2,100 euros for each F1 point gained.

Mosley's reasoning was that F1 drivers were earning enough and should be allowed to contribute more. After all, the money from this so-called tax goes into pots to improve safety in F1. Because there are big differences between the earnings of all drivers, the tax per point is a good outcome according to the FIA. A driver earning less is likely to drive for a weaker team and therefore score fewer points.

Points record and tax record for Verstappen

In the 15 years since this decision, not much seems to have changed, although it is claimed that the points bonus has remained the same and the annual renewal would now cost a maximum of €20,000. In any case, the bottom line for 2022 is that Verstappen can still make a hefty post-season payment at the end of the year. Indeed, the Dutchman achieved a record number of points in a season with his Mexico GP victory. Contracts of several F1 drivers (in the case of Verstappen's new contract, this has not been confirmed but is likely) also include bonuses per point. With such an agreement, the team indirectly pays per point.

Assuming the €10,400 renewal fee and €2,100 per point for Verstappen's current 416 points in the 2022 championship, he comes out to a fee of €884,000. For a driver of this calibre, the basic fee is a mere pittance. Since there are two more race weekends in this season with a sprint race as well, Verstappen could theoretically score another sixty F1 points. This could put him just over a million euros in fees. That means the Dutchman will set a rock-solid points record, but also pay a prohibitively expensive record bill.

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19 Comments

Yves 06 November 2022 at 11:45+ 79

Not being investigated or caught doesn’t necessarily mean they didn’t overspent : Directly sponsored by large car and engine manufacturing with phenomenal research and development budgets could facilitate creative accounting and disguise the F1 Team spending budget…

Floyd 06 November 2022 at 10:16+ 1219

I think he's paid enough. That payment to Massi for last seasons title must have been millions.

Bohunkgearhead 05 November 2022 at 17:46+ 1816

Honestly, this smacks of socialism. A cap of 20,000 euros seems sufficient. Especially since the euro is in danger of going down with the economy of Germany in crunch status. Between all the Covid related crap that damaged the world economy to this Putin war and the energy fluctuations, the entire world is likely to have even more issues next year.

Mark from Canada 05 November 2022 at 18:32+ 10415

Clearly you know nothing about actual Socialism, seeing as you post a version that the Western media wants you to think.

You're actually discussing capitalism.

Bryan Selwood 06 November 2022 at 08:38+ 1

How is that like Socialism?

Red Bull Cactus 06 November 2022 at 12:38+ 4096

Which might be why Horner suggested that 6 more teams could potentially be breaching the 2022 budget cap.
I mean, i'm only repeating what i read on another site:
"The danger for 2022 is there could be six teams in breach of the cap," said Horner. "Energy prices have been exponential. Thankfully we've been protected."
"There is that chance that several teams, many of which have stated during Formula 1 Commission meetings, will break the cap this year.
I do not believe we will break the cap in 2022."

Roger 05 November 2022 at 17:40+ 444

The budget cap drama is over, time to move on. Anyone who thinks a budget control imposed on F1 is a good thing is daft. It's the first step toward spec racing, which has destroyed IndyCar, under the promise of saving it. Soon enough, it will be thrown out as bad medicine. Likely as new entries attempt to get involved, the limitation on spending will make building a competitive effort impossible against incumbents building on platforms evolved over prior seasons, and infrastructure created over decades. The fee paid by drivers is equally nonsense, like being taxed for success. Another daft intrusion with no benefit to anyone.

MichaelBCrawley 05 November 2022 at 16:19+ 1

sdg bdf