Alonso still highest paid driver in 2015

Fernando Alonso remains the highest paid driver in formula one this year.

That is the claim of the latest edition of Business Book, having published a detailed salary ranking of every driver on the 2015 grid.

Spaniard Alonso is yet to score a single point this season following his switch to McLaren-Honda, but he will banking no less than $39 million, international media reports quote Business Book as having found.

That is more than Sebastian Vettel, even though the German’s new $30 million Ferrari retainer is higher than his earlier wage as quadruple world champion at Red Bull.

In third place in 2015 is Lewis Hamilton, but the world champion’s $28 million will reportedly increase to or beyond Alonso’s dizzying earning powers next year and beyond.

Kimi Raikkonen ($20m), Nico Rosberg ($15m) and Jenson Button ($11m) complete the ranks of the most powerful earners in 2015, but Felipe Massa, Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez, Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado all take home a comfortable $4.5 million apiece, Business Book claims.

The only other drivers reportedly making their millions in 2015 are Valtteri Bottas ($2.2m) and Daniel Ricciardo ($1.65m).

Red Bull newcomer Daniil Kvyat is listed as earning $820,000, ahead of the impressive Toro Rosso rookies Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, each with $275,000.

Sauber reportedly pays Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson $220,000 each, while Manor’s Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi make even less than that, the list suggests.