F1 News: Forbes releases list naming Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo as highest paid F1 drivers

F1 News: Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo listed as the top 3 highest paid F1 drivers in the latest list compiled by the Forbes.

In the recently released list by the Forbes about highest-paid athletes in the world, Roger Federer has been placed at the top of the list followed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi respectively.

In the F1 section, Lewis Hamilton has been named as the highest-paid F1 driver after ranking 13th in the list. The British driver reportedly earns $54 million annually from Mercedes, with $42 million being his annual income and $12 million from his endorsement deals.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a massive drop in athlete salaries, especially with several major sporting events on the ice. However, Hamilton can see a rise in his income if he signs a new deal in 2021.

After scrolling down long into the list, at #32, the next highest-paid F1 driver is Sebastian Vettel, who reportedly earns $36.03 in a year. Out of which $36 million are his annual wages from Ferrari and rest $0.3 from endorsements.

But Vettel is expected to fall further in the list next year as his days with Ferrari are over, which was recently been announced, he is yet to sign with another constructor or could leave F1 overall, but either of possibilities will lower his rank in the list next year.

Meanwhile, sitting at the 48th rank, Daniel Ricciardo has been termed as the third highest-paid  F1 driver, who recently joined McLaren from Renault recently.

The Australian driver earned $27 million in terms of salary and $2 million in endorsements. Although some rumours claim that Riccardo will take a cut at McLaren because the outfit has its own financial troubles.

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Thus, even he might go further down in the list and only Hamilton is left over here who has a chance of climbing further.