Lewis Hamilton will once again be the best-paid driver on the Formula 1 grid in 2019 as Mercedes reward the five-time world champion for his dominant run of title-winning success, with rival Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo completing the top three.

Ricciardo has jumped into the top three after swapping Red Bull for Renault, with the departure of Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen‘s Sauber switch also bumping the Australian up the charts – and ahead of former Red Bull colleague Max Verstappen.

With regard to the 2019 salaries of all the F1 drivers, it isn’t surprising that the new recruits are the lowest paid. Toro Rosso’s Alexander Albon is currently the lowest paid driver on $170,000. Williams rookie, George Russell earns $180,000 while Sauber’s Antonio Giovinazzi earns $230,000. McLaren’s new recruit, Lando Norris is being paid $260,000.

This year, there are two Formula 1 returnees, Daniil Kvyat and Robert Kubica. Kvyat, racing for Toro Rosso is being paid $300,000. Meanwhile, Kubica is the highest paid, of the new recruits, earning $570,000.

Among the regulars, Kevin Magnussen and Lance Stroll are the lowest paid. However, both have still breached the one million mark, earning $1.2 million each. The next driver is Pierre Gasly who earns $1.4 million, with compatriot, Romain Grosjean earning $1.8 million for Haas. Racing Point’s Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Charles LeClerc, both earn $3.5 million each. McLaren’s Carlos Sainz earns $4 million. Nico Hulkenberg and Kimi Raikkonen earn $4.5 million this year.

On the edge of the Top 5 is Valtteri Bottas who earns $8.5 million for 2019. Breaking into the double digits, is Max Verstappen who earn $13.5 million for Red Bull. However, Daniel Ricciardo’s contract with Renault means that he earns $17 million.

But the undisputed and runaway leaders are Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. The German 4-time World Champion earns a whopping $45 million. But that pales in comparison with reigning champion Lewis Hamilton who earns $57 million to drive for Mercedes.