Lando Norris will incur a superlicence fee of €1,023,658 for the 2026 Formula 1 season, following his triumph as champion in 2025. The Lando Norris 2026 superlicence fee highlights the financial burden top-performing drivers face under the sport’s current licensing system.
How the Superlicence Fee is Calculated for F1 Drivers
To participate in Formula 1, every driver must pay a superlicence fee, an annual requirement typically covered by their team. This fee consists of a flat base charge combined with an additional amount calculated per point achieved during the previous racing season. For Norris, who finished the 2025 season with 423 points, the equation is straightforward: each point adds €2,392 to the base €11,842, resulting in a total just over one million euros for 2026.
Other Top Drivers Also Facing High Licence Bills
Max Verstappen, who ended the 2025 championship just two points behind Norris, also faces a superlicence fee exceeding €1 million for the new season. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate at McLaren, will pay slightly less after securing third place in the standings, with his invoice coming in just below the seven-figure mark. Verstappen still holds the record for the highest ever superlicence fee, having paid €1,217,900 for the 2024 season after tallying 575 points in 2023.
Significantly Lower Fees for Non-Scoring and Returning Drivers
Not all drivers face such steep costs. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who failed to score in 2025, will only be required to pay the fixed base fee of €11,842 for 2026. Arvid Lindblad, Valtteri Bottas, and Sergio Perez, all absent from the previous year’s competition, are also charged at this minimal rate since their return marks a fresh start under the licensing rules.
The Broader Impact of Rising Superlicence Fees
With the superlicence fee structure tying costs directly to success, top-ranking drivers like Lando Norris and Max Verstappen bear a hefty financial burden as their achievements translate into higher charges. This system, while incentivizing points-scoring performance, continues to draw quiet criticism from drivers and teams who question whether such escalating fees are justified. The focus on licensing costs brings attention to the economic realities even the most successful competitors must navigate in elite motorsport.
