The Horse Whisperer blows a raspberry at the latest F1 Driver Salary Rankings

Ferrari’s straight-talking Horse Whisperer has taken a swipe at the latest F1 Driver Salaries list, published by the French blog tomorrownewsf1.com.

The ranking of F1 drivers’ salaries in 2012, according to BusinessBook GP, estimates the average salary for a F1 driver in 2012 at 5.34 million euros – 445,000 euros/month, up from 377,000 euros/month in 2011.

But according to the report, the gap between the haves and the have lesses is increasing, with the top 5 teams (Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes and Lotus) paying by far the best salaries on the grid.

But even amongst the haves, BusinessBook GP reckons Scuderia Ferrari is on a different planet – with Fernando Alonso apparently drawing a salary of 30 million euros. No wonder he’s always smiling these days..

F1’s premiere team rejects the report’s findings and has fired back with its most condescending prose. Let’s hope the news doesn’t come as any surprise to Fernando..

The Horse Whisperer: The same old story

Ferrari.com | 6th June 2012

This strange 2012 Spring is drawing to a close, but some things never change. Roses bloom in the garden, the smell of jasmine fills the air and, how could it be any different, journalists’ thoughts turn to the question of how much sportsmen earn.

Of course, there’s plenty of interest in Formula 1 drivers and, as usual, all sorts of airy-fairy figures are bandied about. Just arrived, but it’s surely not the last is something called “Business Book GP 2012.” This august publication would have Fernando Alonso earning 30 million Euro per year, or almost the same as the two McLaren drivers put together.

A shame then that it’s an other case of utter balderdash, that shows once again that those who compile these lists, usually like to quote themselves and each other, like dogs chasing their own tails, always putting Ferrari on top when it comes to money, whether it’s referring to driver salaries or budgets.

Things ain’t what they used to be we are told, but, when it comes to money, the song remains the same: Ferrari spends more than anyone. A shame then that the reality is very different, as those who work in the business know only too well.

Image: Scuderia Ferrari

2012 F1 Driver Salaries

Information provided by BusinessBook GP 2012.

Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) – 30 million euros
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) – 16 million euros
Jenson Button (McLaren) – 16 million euros
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) – 10 million euros
Mark Weber (Red Bull) – 10 million euros
Felipe Massa (Ferrari) – 10 million euros
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) – 10 million euros
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) – 8 million euros
Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) – 5 million euros
Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham) – 4 million euros
Timo Glock (Marussia) – 3 million euros
Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber) – 1 million euros
Romain Grosjean (Lotus) – 1 million euros
Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) – 0.5 million euros
Sergio Perez (Sauber) – 0.5 million euros
Vitaly Petrov (Caterham) – 0.5 million euros
Pedro de la Rosa (HRT) – 0.5 million euros
Jean Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso) – 0.4 million euros
Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) – 0.4 million euros
Pastor Maldonado (Williams) – 0.4 million euros
Bruno Senna (Williams) – 0.25 million euros
Nairan Karthikeyan (HRT) – 0.25 million euros
Paul di Resta (Force India) 0.2 million euros
Charles Pic (Marussia) – 0.15 million euros

Written By

Steve Davies

Steve is an investor, private equity advisor and former Partner at KPMG, PwC and Bain. Most importantly he's a life-long car enthusiast, mountain biker and active sports enthusiast. He designs and builds technology platforms and is the architect behind Transmission.