Norris beats Max again –This time on F1’s costliest bill

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Winning an F1 1 world championship usually comes with a shiny trophy, a lifetime of bragging rights, and a permanent place in the history books.

For Lando Norris, however, the 2025 title also came with a receipt that would make even a Monte Carlo real estate agent blush.

The McLaren ace has officially inherited a crown previously held by Max Verstappen for four years: the title of the FIA’s most profitable customer. Thanks to his chart-topping points haul, Norris is set to fork out a staggering €1,032,974 for his 2026 Superlicence.

It’s a driver’s ultimate golden ticket – a mandatory permit that proves you are qualified to race among motorsport’s elite. But unlike a standard DMV renewal, the FIA’s pricing model is built on a "the more you win, the more you pay" philosophy.

How the Fee Works: Points Add Up Fast

Every competitor pays a flat fee of €11,842, which covers rookies like Arvid Lindblad and returning veterans such as Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.

But the real kicker comes in the points system: drivers pay €2,392 for every point scored in the previous season.

For Norris, Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri – all of whom scored over 400 points – the total fee skyrockets. Piastri, the rising talent, narrowly misses the million-euro mark, while Norris comfortably tops the list.

Even drivers who struggled last year, like Franco Colapinto, pay only the base fee, proving that misery may love company, but it’s cheap company in F1.

Who Foots the Bill?

Before anyone panics, take a breath: the drivers don’t pay these bills out of pocket – or at least most don’t.

Each Superlicence fee is generally covered by the respective team, meaning McLaren will handle Norris’ mega-invoice without denting the driver’s bank account. And crucially, the fee doesn’t touch the cost cap, so teams aren’t forced to choose between a car upgrade and paying their star driver’s tax on success.

Read also:

• Norris assesses F1 future: ‘It’s all downhill from here!’

Still, the numbers make for an amusing reminder of just how expensive excellence can be in Formula 1.

Winning on track may bring glory – and a world title – but it also brings a bill that could make even the most accomplished accountants do a double take.

Still, as Norris prepares to defend his title in 2026, he carries the weight of being the first driver in years to break the Verstappen monopoly on the million-euro invoice – a heavy price, perhaps, but one he’d likely pay twice over to keep that number one on his car.

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