
Top 20 best-paid British racers
There are many ways to earn a living in motorsport. But which British drivers are paid the most to race? GARY WATKINS investigates
Who's the highest paid British racing driver? That's an easy question and you probably won't need telling it's Lewis Hamilton, and by some margin. Working out who ranks underneath him in the pay scale of racing Brits is much more difficult.
This is our attempt to come up with a list of the top earners from Britain in our sport and is part of a much wider examination of the British professional racing scene that you can read in this week's Autosport magazine. Of course, it can only be based on informed estimation, because only a handful of sets of eyes will have seen each driver's contract.

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.
Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.
More from Gary Watkins

Toyota: Le Mans win possible with hydrogen prototype from 2026
Toyota: Le Mans win possible with hydrogen prototype from 2026 Toyota: Le Mans win possible with hydrogen prototype from 2026

How Ferrari could have won Le Mans outright in its factory absence
How Ferrari could have won Le Mans outright in its factory absence How Ferrari could have won Le Mans outright in its factory absence

What are LMH and LMDh? The top Le Mans 24 Hours series explained
What are LMH and LMDh? The top Le Mans 24 Hours series explained What are LMH and LMDh? The top Le Mans 24 Hours series explained

Le Mans 24 Hours: Porsche heads second practice from Ferrari
Le Mans 24 Hours: Porsche heads second practice from Ferrari Le Mans 24 Hours: Porsche heads second practice from Ferrari

Peugeot 'disappointed' by Le Mans speed after missing Hyperpole
Peugeot 'disappointed' by Le Mans speed after missing Hyperpole Peugeot 'disappointed' by Le Mans speed after missing Hyperpole

How Porsche's top class comeback lends prestige to the 2023 Le Mans battle
How Porsche's top class comeback lends prestige to the 2023 Le Mans battle How Porsche's top class comeback lends prestige to the 2023 Le Mans battle

Porsche confident significant steps made with 963 ahead of Le Mans 24 Hours
Porsche confident significant steps made with 963 ahead of Le Mans 24 Hours Porsche confident significant steps made with 963 ahead of Le Mans 24 Hours

LMP2 bosses hit out at mild Le Mans penalty for rivals using illegal sensor in test
LMP2 bosses hit out at mild Le Mans penalty for rivals using illegal sensor in test LMP2 bosses hit out at mild Le Mans penalty for rivals using illegal sensor in test
Latest news

Could Le Mans 24 Hours safety car rule changes prompt an LMP2 upset?
Could Le Mans 24 Hours safety car rule changes prompt an LMP2 upset? Could Le Mans 24 Hours safety car rule changes prompt an LMP2 upset?

Toyota: Le Mans win possible with hydrogen prototype from 2026
Toyota: Le Mans win possible with hydrogen prototype from 2026 Toyota: Le Mans win possible with hydrogen prototype from 2026

Mercedes: Canada a "bigger challenge" than Barcelona for upgraded F1 car
Mercedes: Canada a "bigger challenge" than Barcelona for upgraded F1 car Mercedes: Canada a "bigger challenge" than Barcelona for upgraded F1 car

Hunter-Reay to replace Daly in ECR IndyCar seat from Road America
Hunter-Reay to replace Daly in ECR IndyCar seat from Road America Hunter-Reay to replace Daly in ECR IndyCar seat from Road America

Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about
Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about

Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations
Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations

Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?
Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023? Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?

Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked
Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked

How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule
How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule

The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing
The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing

How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14
How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14 How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.