The spectacular dominance of Kimi Antonelli during the 2026 season has forced team management to conduct a major evaluation of the world champion's salary structure. Although the young Italian driver has restored glory to the German manufacturer, the financial compensation he currently receives remains far behind his teammate.
According to recent reports, Antonelli's initial contract only provides a base salary of 3.4 million USD per season. This figure is significantly dwarfed by the contract of George Russell, which stands at 34 million USD annually. This situation creates a stark disparity within the Mercedes garage, especially considering Antonelli's performance in securing the world title.
To date, Antonelli has secured bonuses totaling approximately 12 million USD thanks to his nine race victories, bringing his total seasonal earnings to over 15 million USD. However, this sum is still considered to fall short of reflecting the driver's market value, which has skyrocketed following his on-track achievements.
Team principal Toto Wolff is now in a position where he must immediately open contract renegotiations. Analysis from the sports consultancy firm StageUp projects that Antonelli's economic value could reach 73 million USD by 2030, with that potential rising to 105 million USD should he successfully defend his world title next year.
This contract revision is expected to take place well before the current agreement expires in 2027. Given Antonelli's crucial contribution in ending Mercedes' world championship drought since 2020, the team is expected to provide more appropriate financial recognition to ensure the stability and loyalty of their future star.
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