Flavio Briatore, executive advisor for Alpine, has proposed that Formula 1’s financial regulations should be expanded to include driver salaries within the sport’s budget cap. This initiative aims to further reduce the financial disparity between teams and enhance competitive balance across the grid. Briatore articulated this position during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend in August 2026.
The current F1 budget cap for the 2026 season stands at $215 million. This figure represents an increase from the $135 million limit in 2025, a change attributed to cumulative inflation and the integration of several previously exempt expenditure categories.
However, significant exemptions persist within the existing financial regulations. Driver salaries are explicitly excluded from the cost cap, as is the compensation for the three highest-paid personnel within each team. This allows top teams to allocate substantial funds outside the regulated spending limits.
Max Verstappen, currently the highest-paid driver in Formula 1, commands an estimated base salary of $70 million for the 2026 season. With performance bonuses, his total earnings could exceed $76 million. His contract with Red Bull Racing extends through 2028.
Other leading drivers also command considerable salaries outside the cap. Lewis Hamilton’s contract with Ferrari is valued at approximately $60 million annually. Charles Leclerc and George Russell each earn around $34 million, while Lando Norris’s compensation is estimated at $30 million.
The Formula 1 budget cap was introduced in 2021 with the primary objectives of fostering financial sustainability and promoting greater competitive parity. Its implementation has contributed to teams achieving profitability and has attracted significant investment into the sport.
Prior to the cap’s introduction, the wealthiest teams were reportedly spending upwards of $400 million per season. While the budget cap has narrowed the overall spending gap, the exclusion of driver salaries and top personnel compensation means a substantial financial differential remains.
Briatore’s role at Alpine, which he rejoined in 2024 as an executive advisor, involves a broad mandate. Appointed by Renault CEO Luca de Meo, he is tasked with scouting talent, evaluating commercial strategy, and ensuring Alpine’s long-term stability under the 2026 regulations.
He also assumed a de facto team principal role in May 2025 and was instrumental in securing a deal for Alpine to utilize Mercedes power units from the 2026 season. Briatore’s proposal underscores a continued effort to refine the financial framework of Formula 1.
‘We have a budget gap, but we need to do something stronger,’ Briatore stated. ‘Because whilst the budget cap was a very good idea, at a certain point we need to make the budget cap much stronger, and we need to include the drivers.’
The debate surrounding the inclusion of driver salaries in the budget cap highlights the ongoing tension between controlling costs for competitive balance and allowing market forces to dictate compensation for elite talent.
