The rumour mill is churning, and the numbers are staggering. Charles Leclerc has officially extended his stay at Scuderia Ferrari, but does the new contract close the gap with his teammate? Not quite. The latest reports suggest a massive jump for the Monegasque star, yet Lewis Hamilton remains the undisputed king of the payroll in Maranello.

A Historic Payroll Explosion

Formula 1 teams guard their financial secrets like dragons hoarding gold, but leaks from management and financial reports paint a vivid picture. With Hamilton’s arrival, Ferrari has transformed into the sport’s biggest spender on driver wages. Hamilton’s two-year deal, running until the end of 2026 with an option for another year, reportedly commands a staggering 60 million euros annually. This figure sits comfortably outside the budget cap, a luxury the Italian giants can afford.

Leclerc’s previous contract placed him at approximately 34 million euros per season. The new agreement is expected to push that figure to around 50 million euros. While this is a significant increase, it still leaves him 10 million euros short of his British teammate. Ferrari is now poised to become the first team in F1 history to exceed 100 million euros annually in combined driver salaries. By comparison, Red Bull Racing sits second with a total driver budget of 75 million euros, with Max Verstappen taking home 70 million of that.

The Monaco Context

This financial news breaks just as the grid prepares for the glamour of the Monaco Grand Prix. The pressure is on for both drivers to deliver on the streets of Monte Carlo. Lando Norris has already predicted Ferrari will dominate qualifying, adding another layer of expectation to the Ferrari duo. As the season progresses, the financial disparity may become a talking point in the paddock, but for now, the focus remains on the track. Can Leclerc match Hamilton’s pace, or will the paycheck difference reflect on the podium?