Indy 500 driver salaries as top stars earn tiny wage compared to F1's big name drivers

The legendary is set to return this Sunday, with racing enthusiasts worldwide eagerly anticipating the thrilling 500-mile challenge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Since its inception in 1911, the renowned race has undergone numerous changes, none more significant than the ever-increasing cash prize for the victor.

To put it into perspective, the inaugural Indy 500 offered a total prize fund of £20,000, with champion Ray Harroun pocketing half of that sum. However, contemporary racers will be vying for their slice of a prize pot predicted to approach £14.7million this year. For comparison, Josef Newgarden, last year's winner, walked away with a record-breaking $3.1m from an overall purse of £13.6m.

Interestingly, the Indy 500 champion doesn't receive a fixed percentage of the prize money, with factors such as laps led, sponsorships and pole winner all influencing earnings, according to . While estimates suggest that this year's victor could earn up to £3.6m, this figure is modest compared to the annual earnings of other motorsport stars.

Colin Herta tops the earnings chart, having landed a reported salary of around £5.1m as per reports. The Andretti Global driver made history in 2019 by becoming the youngest ever winner of an IndyCar Series race, clinching victory at the Circuit of the Americas aged just 18.

With a contract extension that will keep him at Andretti until 2027, the 25-year-old is aiming for victory at Sunday's event following a lacklustre season so far, with his best finish being fourth place at Thermal in March. Despite Herta carving out a decent living through the Indy Series, his earnings are dwarfed by those at the pinnacle of .

For instance, Red Bull's four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen has reportedly pocketed a salary of £47.9m this year alone, even though he currently ranks third in the standings behind and McLaren's Lando Norris. Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is said to have bagged a £44.3m salary this year after his surprising switch from Mercedes to Ferrari.

Charles Leclerc comes in third, with a reported salary of £25.1m, despite being a staple at Ferrari since 2019 and signing a five-year extension with the team last January. In fact, Herta's salary of £5.1m matches what Haas star Esteban Ocon and Kick Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg are reportedly set to earn this year, despite sitting tenth in terms of driver payment for 2025 while Herta tops his own respective sport.

Given that F1 generated a reported revenue of £2.62billion in 2024 alone, it's hardly surprising that teams reward their drivers with incredibly generous paydays and bonus packages for performances. However, as Formula 1 races globally and IndyCar is primarily confined to North America at the moment, F1 has managed to surge ahead in terms of exposure, growth and viewership due to its accessibility to motorsports fans.