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It looks like we could be in for a cracking finish to the Formula One season, with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen duking it out at the top of the driver standings.

Verstappen leads Hamilton 185 to 177, and tension between the two is at an all-time high after their collision / crash at the British Grand Prix.

This Sunday, the rivalry continues at the Austrian Grand Prix, but in terms of off-the-track earnings, there is only one winner.

Forbes reports that the sport’s 10 highest-paid stars are projected to pull in a collective $211 million in salary and bonuses this season, with Hamilton way out in front.

The figures below cover on-track earnings, and do not include sponsorships and endorsements, which would put Hamilton even further ahead of the field.

In addition, the full-year bonus projections are based on the results of the season’s first 10 races, extrapolated across the full race season (22 races).

Let’s start with number one and work our way down.

Lewis Hamilton

Max Verstappen

Fernando Alonso

Alonso is currently in 11th on the driver standings, hence the lack of bonuses.

The fourth highest-earning driver is Mexico’s Sergio Pérez, who earns a salary of $5 million, but has already racked up $5,5 million in bonuses.

If he keeps that up, he would finish 2021 with around $13 million in bonuses, bringing his total earnings to $18 million.

Germany’s Sebastian Vettel rounds up the top five, commanding a salary of $15 million, although he has yet to achieve any bonuses this year.

You can see the rest of the top 10 here.

Whatever figures are involved, you get the feeling that the Hamilton / Verstappen rivalry is now personal.

[source:forbes]