Lando Norris is set to pay the highest FIA super license fee among all Formula 1 drivers in 2026, with his record cost stemming from his top-scoring season. The Lando Norris super license fee highlights how driver points directly impact annual costs for participation in the championship.
How Super License Fees Are Calculated in Formula 1
To compete in Formula 1, every driver must acquire an FIA super license by collecting a set number of merit points, which are awarded through performances in various feeder series and championships. After entering F1, drivers face an annual financial obligation: a fixed fee plus an additional charge per point earned in the preceding season. For 2026, the set structure is a base fee of €11,842, with an extra €2,392 applied to every championship point scored the previous year.
This sliding scale leads to considerable variation in costs. Drivers who did not compete or failed to score in the 2025 season, such as Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, will only pay the baseline amount. The same applies to rookies like Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto, whose lack of points results in minimal fees.
Norris Sets a New Standard for License Fees
After an outstanding 2025 campaign, world champion Lando Norris achieved 423 points. This accomplishment has directly resulted in his super license fee totaling €1,023,658 for the 2026 season—more than any other competitor on the grid.
Max Verstappen, representing Red Bull and finishing with just two points fewer, will also surpass the million-euro mark at €1,018,874. Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate at McLaren, is set to pay €999,562, while George Russell of Mercedes stands at €774,890, reflecting the performance-based nature of the system. In comparison, drivers further down the standings face substantially lower fees. For instance, Charles Leclerc is liable for €590,706, Lewis Hamilton for €384,994, and Kimi Antonelli for €370,642.
Teams, not individual drivers, will ultimately take on these costs, ensuring that the license fees do not affect the financial limits set by F1’s budget cap. The presence of such high fees, especially for top performers, has become a talking point in the paddock and among fans.
2026 FIA Super License Costs by Driver
The full breakdown of 2026 super license costs, based on the drivers’ 2025 points tallies, is as follows:
1. Lando Norris — €1,023,658
2. Max Verstappen — €1,018,874
3. Oscar Piastri — €999,562
4. George Russell — €774,890
5. Charles Leclerc — €590,706
6. Lewis Hamilton — €384,994
7. Kimi Antonelli — €370,642
8. Alex Albon — €184,458
9. Carlos Sainz — €164,930
10. Fernando Alonso — €145,794
11. Nico Hulkenberg — €133,834
12. Isack Hadjar — €133,834
13. Oliver Bearman — €109,014
14. Liam Lawson — €102,738
15. Esteban Ocon — €102,738
16. Lance Stroll — €90,778
17. Pierre Gasly — €64,466
18. Gabriel Bortoleto — €57,290
19. Franco Colapinto — €11,842
20. Valtteri Bottas — €11,842
21. Sergio Perez — €11,842
22. Arvid Lindblad — €11,842
This fee structure continues to reinforce the link between on-track results and off-track responsibilities for all F1 competitors.
Changes to the Grid and Upcoming Season Developments
The upcoming F1 season starts in March with the Australian Grand Prix, set against the introduction of new technical regulations. These rule changes are expected to alter car designs significantly compared to the current generation, particularly as new power units debut in 2026. A notable update for 2026 is the expansion of pre-season testing, with three sessions scheduled instead of the single test seen in recent years. The initial test will be held privately at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain.
Only one fresh circuit joins the calendar: Madrid’s Madring, making it the second Spanish track on what will be a 24-race season. The championship is set to conclude at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The evolution of the sport’s technical side, coupled with reshuffles among teams and drivers, ensures that anticipation is high for both on-track competition and off-track developments like super license costs and team budgets.
Looking Ahead: Impact on Drivers and Teams
With Norris now holding the most expensive super license in Formula 1 history, the spotlight is on how performance-based fees might influence team decisions and financial planning. Verstappen previously held this distinction for four consecutive years, driven by consistent world championship wins. The last time a world champion didn’t lead the license cost table was in the 2017 season, after Nico Rosberg’s retirement.
As teams and fans prepare for a dramatically changing season, record-breaking costs like the Lando Norris super license fee will remain a point of debate, symbolizing the growing stakes and increasing rewards at the top of global motorsport.
“2026 ð the LN1 era is here ð§¡1ï¸â£#McLaren pic.twitter.com/xTbxc3EIII”—McLaren (@McLarenF1)
https://twitter.com/McLarenF1/status/2007927518314017159
