Title: McLaren Faces Shocking €2 Million Bill Due to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s Success!
In a stunning turn of events, McLaren is bracing for a staggering financial blow as their star drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, rack up costs exceeding €2 million for the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 season. This exorbitant fee stems from a unique FIA super licence system that penalizes drivers for their own triumphs on the track. As Norris clinched his first world championship title in 2025, defeating Max Verstappen by a mere two points, the costs associated with their success have come into sharp focus.
Norris not only emerged as the champion but also outpaced his rivals with an impressive eight grand prix victories, the highest of any driver that season. Piastri, despite leading the championship for much of the year, ultimately fell behind, finishing 13 points short of his teammate. While their performances thrilled fans and solidified their status as top contenders, it has come at a steep price.
To compete in Formula 1, drivers must secure a super licence, which is no cheap endeavor. The base cost is €11,842, but the real kicker lies in the additional charges based on championship points accrued in the previous season. Each point translates to an extra €2,392, meaning Norris and Verstappen will each face fees surpassing €1 million, while Piastri is looking at a hefty €992,562 bill.
This financial burden, however, typically falls on the teams rather than the drivers themselves, meaning McLaren will have to dig deep into their pockets to cover the costs for their championship-contending duo. Given the lucrative salaries they are already paying their drivers, the team should manage to absorb this hit without too much strain.
In stark contrast, drivers like Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas, and Arvid Lindblad, who failed to score any points last season, will only be liable for the standard licence fee of €11,842. This highlights the glaring disparity between those who excel and those left in the dust.
So, what exactly is an FIA super licence? It’s an essential credential issued by the FIA, the governing body of Formula 1, allowing drivers to compete at the pinnacle of motorsport. To qualify, drivers must meet strict criteria outlined in the FIA’s International Sporting Code, including being at least 18 years old (unless granted a special exemption), passing a knowledge theory test, and accumulating at least 40 super licence points from various FIA-sanctioned racing events.
As the 2026 season approaches, all eyes will be on McLaren and how they navigate this unexpected financial challenge. Will their success on the track overshadow the financial implications off it? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: the price of victory in Formula 1 has never been higher!
