How much do F1 TEAM MEMBERS get PAID?

I’m Kym Illman, and I’ve spent time in the paddock asking the simple question: how much do the thousands of people who keep Formula 1 running actually earn? The answers range from hourly hospitality staff rates to multi-million-dollar salaries for the very top roles. This article breaks down team sizes, typical salary bands, working conditions, benefits and the realities behind the glamour—straight from conversations with team members and my own observations.

Quick snapshot: the scale of F1 employment

The sport is huge behind the scenes. The 10 teams on the 2026 grid employ more than 9,000 people in total, although most of those staff never travel to the racetrack. Team sizes vary dramatically: a few top teams approach 1,200 personnel, while smaller outfits operate with a few hundred.

Common team headcounts I confirmed are:

• Mercedes: ~1,250
• Red Bull: ~1,200 (without engine division)
• Williams: ~1,200
• Ferrari: ~1,050 (excluding separate engine department)
• McLaren: ~1,000
• Aston Martin ~1,000
• Alpine: ~1,000
• Sauber: ~750
• Alfa Romeo (V-Carb): ~700
• Haas: ~350

Cadillac joins as an 11th team next year and is expected to employ around 800 staff. Team size drives internal specialisation and salary breadth—bigger teams often pay more for top talent but also carry larger payrolls overall.

Lowest-paid roles: hospitality and track-side contractors

Not everyone in the paddock is a direct team employee. Some of the lowest-paid people you’ll see are hospitality staff contracted through catering companies. They typically earn around $30 to $35 per hour (USD). They don’t receive the same direct payroll benefits from teams, but teams provide uniforms, accommodation, flights, transfers and meals at the track.

Their work is physically demanding and long: setting up on Wednesday, working multiple shifts through Saturday and packing down late on Sunday, often finishing past midnight and heading straight to a Monday morning flight. They love the paddock atmosphere, but the hours and travel are real sacrifices.

Operational staff: the 60 who work on the car

Every team is allowed to take a maximum of 60 operational staff to each race. These are the people who physically build, prepare and work directly on the cars: mechanics, fitters, jackmen, tyre handlers and similar roles. Most are full-time employees of the team, and their salary ranges reflect their importance and intensity of work.

Typical pay bands are:

• Standard mechanics: ~$67,000 to $81,000 per year
• Number one mechanic: ~$90,000 to $110,000 per year
• Race engineers: around $135,000 (top examples can earn substantially more)
• Strategists: $80,000 to $120,000

These roles come with covered airfares (usually economy), accommodation (most get single rooms since COVID), meals at the track, pension and health insurance in many cases, and around 27 days of annual leave plus compensatory days off for extra work. Teams also require staff to take mandated shutdown days—often 10 in summer and 5 during the European winter shutdown.

Curfew rules and why they exist

Operational crew are subject to strict electronic curfew rules enforced by swipe gates. These rules are designed to stop teams from burning out staff during a long season (now often 24 races). A typical European race curfew example:

• Wednesday: curfew starts 19:30; crew must leave unless using a one-hour exercise exemption (must then leave by 20:30)
• Thursday: not allowed to enter before 08:30; must leave at 19:30 unless running the track
• Friday & Saturday: access opens at 09:30; curfew kicks in at 22:00 Friday and 19:00 Saturday
• Sunday: curfew lifted at 10:00, five hours before race start

These labour protections mean some crew are rostered to only work a maximum number of races—some teams limit crew to 20 races per season—to manage fatigue and health.

Other race roles and their pay

Teams bring another 50 to 60 people to each race on top of the 60 operational staff. These roles aren’t always in the garage but are essential for running the weekend.

Common race-week roles and pay estimates:

• Press office staff: $42,000 to $95,000 depending on experience and team size
• Marketing & sponsorship personnel: $40,000 to $100,000, depending on responsibilities and client relationships
• Team managers (not team principals): $200,000 to $300,000
• Driver trainers: $70,000 to $100,000

Most track staff are fed onsite, and many get meal allowances tied to the host city. A typical allowance might be $20 per day in cheaper cities, increased for pricier destinations. Beware—local restaurants often run “F1 menus” that inflate prices during race weekends, so allowances can be eaten up quickly. Teams may reimburse tips, but some staff report limits (for example, only 10% claimable), which can leave out-of-pocket expenses in countries with different tipping cultures.

Top earners: team principals, drivers and lead engineers

At the very top of the earnings ladder are the elite roles. Team principals can earn anywhere from around $1,000,000 to $17,000,000 depending on performance, profile and contract terms. Drivers range enormously, from rookie salaries to megabucks for the superstars.

Driver pay examples:

• Entry-level/younger drivers: around $500,000 (often with sponsors or investor obligations)
• Established race-winning drivers: multi-million dollar contracts; the highest can earn $54,000,000 or more per year

Remember that drivers commonly pay managers around 10% to 20% of their salaries, and many younger drivers have investors to repay for years of junior-category support.

Top technical talent can earn extraordinary sums too. Car designers at the highest level, such as Adrian Newey, have been reported to receive between $30,000,000 and $40,000,000 a year depending on the source. These are exceptional cases—most designers and aerodynamicists are paid well but not at that level.

Working demographics and recruitment

The paddock workforce is skewed male, especially in the garages and operational roles. The majority of operational staff are aged between 20 and 40, are physically fit and accept the strain of spending 130+ days away from family and friends each year. Most people arrive here through junior motorsport categories and hands-on experience.

Jobs are advertised in various places. Sometimes roles appear in specialist publications like Autosport, but many positions are listed directly on team websites. One helpful internal policy is that teams often advertise vacancies internally first; only if they can’t fill roles from within do they go external. That means networking and internal progression can be crucial for those seeking to break in.

Work pressure, mistakes and rewards

The role is not glamorous in the way many imagine. Operational crew face intense pressure where a small error can have massive consequences and be seen by millions. A visible example is a botched pit-stop that costs precious seconds; the individual involved lives with that spotlight. Yet, despite the pressure, for many the attraction is not money but the chance to be at the centre of the highest level of motorsport and to travel the world with like-minded people.

When a team wins the World Constructors’ Championship, staff can expect a sizeable bonus. Teams like Red Bull and Mercedes historically paid these bonuses to crew, and other teams that win a championship will typically follow suit.

The market is changing: new teams and talent poaching

The entry of new manufacturers and teams can disrupt the paddock labour market. For example, Cadillac’s recruitment push has seen them pay over-market rates to attract experienced personnel. When a new employer pays top dollar, it forces incumbent teams to raise salaries to retain talent, which impacts budgets across the grid.

This competitive environment is part of why F1 salaries at the top end have continued to escalate—teams must protect and reward the people who deliver performance on track.

Conclusion: why people work in F1

Yes, salaries range from hourly hospitality rates to tens of millions for a handful of stars. But for many in F1 the deciding factor isn’t the pay packet. It’s the opportunity to travel, the camaraderie of a small team operating under intense pressure, and the chance to work at the very peak of motorsport. The salary bands reflect the importance of roles, experience and scarcity of skill. Operational life is demanding—the hours, the travel and the scrutiny—but for those who thrive in that environment, there’s few industries like it.

FAQ

Q: How many people does each F1 team employ?

A: Team headcounts vary widely. Typical figures are: Mercedes ~1,200; Red Bull ~1,200 (without engine division); Williams ~1,200; Ferrari ~1,050 (excluding engine division); McLaren ~1,000; Aston Martin and Alpine ~1,000; Sauber ~750; Alfa Romeo ~700; Haas ~350. Cadillac is expected to bring ~800 when they join.

Q: What do operational mechanics earn?

A: Regular mechanics typically earn between $67,000 and $81,000 per year. The number-one mechanic can expect $90,000 to $110,000. Race engineers sit around $135,000 on average, with top individuals paid much more.

Q: Are hospitality and catering staff employed by the teams?

No. Hospitality staff are generally employed by external catering companies contracted by teams and earn around $30 to $35 per hour. They do, however, receive track meals, accommodation, flights and transport organized by the team.

Q: Do crew receive overtime or travel perks?

Most track staff don’t receive overtime pay in the traditional sense. Travel (airfares), accommodation, and track meals are typically covered. Most staff get single rooms and receive pension and health insurance packages from many teams, plus around 27 days annual leave and mandatory shutdown days.

Q: How does working back-to-back races affect staff?

When races are consecutive, crew travel logistics are tight: crews may fly right after a race, get a rest day, then head to the next circuit. In some cases, crews return to the factory for a day between races in Europe. Teams manage rosters and sometimes limit how many races each crew member works per season to manage fatigue.

Q: How do teams recruit?

Vacancies are often posted internally first. Teams then advertise externally on their websites and specialist motorsport publications. Networking, junior category experience and demonstrable hands-on skills are key pathways into the paddock.

If you’re considering a career in the sport, remember that most roles demand dedication, adaptability and the willingness to work long hours in a high-pressure environment. The rewards are both financial for some, and experiential for many: you get to be at the centre of world-class motorsport.