9 replies to this topic

[CLX]

Just out of curiosity, is it possible to compile a list of the top paid drivers per season for each F1 season of the 80s?

I'm just curious too see how many times the champion was the driver who was paid the most.

[Don Capps]

Hmmm, this would be bear since most of this info really wasn't ballyhooed like it is today. Indeed, until Senna began his campaign for big buck$, this sort of thing was not a big topic of discussion. However, I am certain that there could be a good bit of this data found for the latter part of the 80's, but for the early 80's it could be a bit more difficult.

[mikedeering]

Wasn't Jackie Stewart offered $2m to race for Brabham by Bernie Ecclestone in 1982? That was thought to be an astronomical amount at the time. I imagine Lauda was probably the best paid driver of the time prior to his retirement in 1985. Piquet probably led the way in 1986-87.

Senna was the one to really start pushing for more money - culminating in his $1m a race fee for 1993.

[TODave2]

In his book Lauda revealed that Bernie offered him $6.5 million (IIRC) to drive the 1986 lay down Brabham BT55 (if anyone has this book please correct me if I got the figure wrong. I gave away my copy years ago). This was after Piquet had signed for Williams remember so Bernie was desperate to sign a top name. Even today that would be a good salary by F1 standards (which makes me wonder if I have actually got the figure wrong)

I think Piquet's Lotus fee was $3.3 million, and the only other one I know is Piquet's 1990-1991 Benetton deal which was $100,000 plus $100,000 per championship point. I wonder if anyone has actually done a deal like that since...? It certainly motivated Piquet, although I wonder if Flavio (for it was he who done the deal) expected Piquet to pick up those two wins in late 1990 that cost him $2,000,000...

[fines]

From German mag "rallye racing" 10/81:

Mario Andretti, Alfa Romeo: 1,000,000 $
Alan Jones, Williams: 1,000,000 $
Jacques Laffite, Talbot: 600,000 $
Carlos Reutemann, Williams: 600,000 $
Gilles Villeneuve, Ferrari: 600,000 $
Didier Pironi, Ferrari: 500,000 $
René Arnoux, Renault: 450,000 $
Alain Prost, Renault: 450,000 $
Riccardo Patrese, Arrows: 250,000 $
Eddie Cheever, Tyrrell: 230,000 $
Elio de Angelis, Lotus: 200,000 $
Bruno Giacomelli, Alfa Romeo: 200,000 $
Keke Rosberg, Fittipaldi: 200,000 $
John Watson, McLaren: 200,000 $
Patrick Tambay, Talbot: 150,000 $
Andrea de Cesaris, McLaren: 100,000 $
Derek Daly, RAM-March: 100,000 $
Brian Henton, Toleman: 100,000 $
Nigel Mansell, Lotus: 100,000 $
Nelson Piquet, Brabham: 100,000 $
Jean-Pierre Jarier, Osella: 80,000 $
Derek Warwick, Toleman: 80,000 $
Beppe Gabbiani, Osella: 40,000 $

Not explicitly mentioned, but probably around 50,000 $:

Michele Alboreto (Tyrrell)
Slim Borgudd (ATS)
Héctor Rebaque (Brabham)
Eliseo Salazar (Ensign)
Chico Serra (Fittipaldi)
Siegfried Stohr (Arrows)
Marc Surer (Theodore)

Also interesting, the "other" income (sponsors etc.)

Mario Andretti: 920,000 $
Alan Jones: 820,000 $
Didier Pironi: 720,000 $
Gilles Villeneuve: 590,000 $
Carlos Reutemann: 450,000 $
Neslon Piquet: 250,000 $
Keke Rosberg: 230,000 $
etc.
(...)
last!!!!: Nigel Mansell: 18,000 $

[LittleChris]

I remember reading ( Autosport interview I think ) that Stefan Johansson was paid £40K for his half season at Tyrrell in 1984 after Brundle injured himself at Dallas.

[TODave2]

I wonder how much Piquet's went up for 82 now that he was champion? He finished second in 80, and yet he's waaaaay down that list.

Still... that's what having Bernie as your boss does for you I guess

[holiday]

Ron Dennis recently said that Minardi is currently operating with a budget McLaren were having 15 years ago. That would be the years of the memorable Prost-Senna fights...

[fines]

Originally posted by TODave2
I wonder how much Piquet's went up for 82 now that he was champion? He finished second in 80, and yet he's waaaaay down that list.

Still... that's what having Bernie as your boss does for you I guess

The rr article said Piquet had signed a three-year contract in '79, offering him 50k in the first season, 80k in the second and 100k in the third.

[Ray Bell]

I believe I recall that Rob Walker or somebody once wrote that Piquet got three million from Honda to go to Williams...

Don't remember if it was pounds of the realm or Yankee dollars.