British driver Lando Norris became Formula One world champion at the weekend

Lando Norris has discovered that claiming Formula 1’s ultimate prize comes with a substantial financial obligation.

The 26-year-old McLaren sensation must pay £893,989 to renew his FIA Super Licence following his maiden world championship triumph.

The British driver accumulated 423 points throughout the 2025 campaign, securing McLaren’s first drivers’ title since 2008.

His victory came by the slenderest of margins, edging out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by a mere two points.

Lando Norris has been forced to cough up nearly a million after winning the F1 title, though he will likely not mind | REUTERS

Sunday’s third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix proved sufficient to end Verstappen’s four-year stranglehold on the championship.

The Super Licence represents an essential credential, as drivers cannot compete in Formula 1 without holding one.

The fee structure operates on a two-tier basis, rewarding success with higher charges. For the 2026 season, every driver faces a baseline payment of £10,342, representing a modest increase from the £10,000 demanded for the current campaign.

Beyond this flat rate, competitors must pay £2,089 for each championship point accumulated. This per-point levy has also risen slightly from the £2,020 charged during the previous year.

The system effectively means that those who perform best on track face the steepest bills for their continued participation.

Lando Norris finished third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but it was enough to secure the title | REUTERS

Norris’s fee represents the largest of his career by a considerable margin, though one imagines the newly crowned champion will pay it gladly after securing seven race victories and his first world title.

Verstappen’s own renewal bill stands at £889,811, only marginally less than his British rival despite surrendering the crown.

Oscar Piastri, who finished third in the standings just 13 points adrift of the title, faces a charge of £866,195 for his 2026 licence.

The Australian’s fee represents an increase of approximately £300,000 compared to his previous season’s costs, reflecting his improved performance during an enthralling three-way battle for supremacy.

Ironically, Norris might thank Verstappen for keeping the championship contest so fiercely competitive.

The Dutchman’s dominant 2023 campaign saw him amass a record 575 points, resulting in a Super Licence bill exceeding £1million for the following year.

Verstappen has previously confirmed that Red Bull shoulders his Super Licence expenses.

Lando Norris held off a resurgent Max Verstappen to win the F1 title | REUTERS

“The team pays that, fortunately,” he told Viaplay following his 2023 title success. “I do think there should be some normal ratio in that – but you know, things like that get written down, and I don’t think anybody expected that there would end up being that many points scored.”

The four-time champion has voiced his displeasure with the current arrangement.

“I don’t think it’s right that we have to pay so much. It’s not the case in other sports either. And there are more and more races,” he added.

Whether McLaren extends similar generosity to Norris and Piastri remains unclear.