Why Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri will pay over $1 million for their 2026 F1 super licenses

Formula 1 is heading into a new era in the upcoming season, with sweeping FIA regulation changes set to come into force from the Australian Grand Prix in March. While adapting to the new rules will be demanding even for the most experienced drivers, there is another issue they must deal with before taking to the track. F1 drivers will have to pay a massive fee to secure their super licenses for the season, with the final amount directly proportional to the points they scored in the previous season. Unsurprisingly, reigning world champion Lando Norris faces the biggest bill of all, with the Briton expected to pay around $1.2 million to the FIA for his super license.

How much do F1 drivers need to pay the FIA for a super license?

According to GPblog.com, F1 drivers will have to shell out a minimum base fee of €11,842 ($13,888) for a super license, along with an additional €2,392 ($2,805) for every point scored during the 2025 season. As a result, new drivers such as Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad, along with Cadillac drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, will only need to pay the base fee of $13,888 to be eligible to race. Alpine driver Franco Colapinto also failed to score any points last season and will therefore pay only the base amount for his license.

As per the regulations, Lando Norris tops the list in terms of FIA super license fees. While Norris must pay $1.2 million after scoring 423 points in the Drivers’ Championship, Max Verstappen will pay slightly less after missing out on the title by just two points. The Red Bull star is set to pay $1,194,986 for his super license. Similarly, Oscar Piastri will pay $1,164,126, while George Russell’s fee stands at $908,829.

Charles Leclerc will pay $692,809, while his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton will pay $451,540 to the FIA for his super license. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli will also pay $434,707, with drivers who scored fewer points than him paying even less.

F1 action begins with three pre-season tests

Anticipation is building ahead of the 2026 season, as the new regulations are expected to significantly change the way drivers race on track. Before the season officially gets underway in Melbourne in March, three pre-season tests have been scheduled to help drivers adapt to the newly built cars. The first test will take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in the final week of January, followed by two back-to-back test sessions in Bahrain in February.

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