Huge title bonus: Antonelli set for near-€10m Mercedes payout

Andrea Kimi Antonelli is on the verge of becoming the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, despite earning one of the lowest base salaries on the grid. According to German outlet Bild, claiming the title will trigger a lucrative bonus from Mercedes, taking his 2026 earnings to just under €10 million.

The Italian driver heads into the Mexico City Grand Prix holding a commanding 123-point lead over George Russell, needing just two points to seal the crown. Mercedes also have a chance to wrap up the Constructors' Championship this weekend, while Antonelli's potential triumph would dramatically boost his financial windfall for the season.

Title bonus set to dwarf base salary

According to Bild, Antonelli's guaranteed salary in his second Formula 1 season is a modest $2 million. However, the championship bonus would propel his total earnings for the campaign to "just under €10 million"—a figure more than five times his base pay.

Based solely on his base salary, the championship leader sits firmly in the bottom half of the F1 drivers' pay table, although Mercedes have not officially confirmed these figures and paddock estimates vary.

New contract talks and Brackley's financial benchmark

Such stellar form also casts Antonelli's future in a new light. While his current deal runs until at least 2027, the Italian could be rewarded with vastly improved terms as early as the upcoming winter break in recognition of his championship status.

Any revised deal would inevitably be measured against George Russell's package, which sets the financial benchmark at Brackley. Figures surrounding the Briton's salary vary significantly; Bild reported last year that his earnings could reach around €25 million per season, while other paddock sources suggest an even higher sum. Either way, Russell pockets a base salary vastly superior to his teammate's, despite trailing by more than 120 points on track.