F1 2012 driver salaries revealed - but who earns most?

The annual list of F1 salaries has again been published, with Fernando Alonso again leading the way, while Sebastian Vettel is down in joint fourth, taking home the same as the likes of his team-mate, Mark Webber, as well as Nico Rosberg and current struggler, Felipe Massa.

The report - published by Spanish newspaper El Mundo and citing information compiled by Business Book GP - revealed that Alonso remains on a retainer of EUR30 million, although this will of course be supplemented by external endorsements.

The Spaniard's salary is twice that of his former team-mate, Lewis Hamilton, although the McLaren driver is coming to the end of his current deal and could be set for a big rise, if recent reports are to be believed [see separate story - HERE]. Even if he does get that rise though, he will remain second to Alonso, on EUR22 million...

Jenson Button now reportedly earns the same as his fellow countryman, also taking home EUR16 million, while Vettel, Webber, Rosberg and Massa are all on EUR10 million, EUR2 million a year more than Michael Schumacher.

Kimi Raikkonen, who has returned to the sport this season with Lotus, is now on EUR5 million - a massive cut compared to the EUR16 million he use to command while at Ferrari, while Heikki Kovalainen and Timo Glock take home EUR4 and EUR3 million respectively from Caterham and Marussia.

Further back, Paul di Resta looks a bargain for only EUR200,000, placing him behind his team-mate, Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez, Vitaly Petrov and Pedro de la Rosa, all on EUR500,000, as well as Pastor Maldonado, Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne on EUR400,000 and Bruno Senna and Narain Karthikeyan on EUR250,000. Rookie Charles Pic is bottom, 'only' on EUR150,000.

Drivers:

1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari EUR30m
2. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes EUR16m
= Jenson ButtonMcLaren-Mercedes EUR16m
4. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing EUR10m
= Mark Webber Red Bull Racing EUR10m
= Felipe MassaFerrari EUR10m
= Nico Rosberg MercedesEUR10m
8. Michael Schumacher MercedesEUR8m
9. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus F1 TeamEUR5m
10. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham F1 TeamEUR4m
11. Timo Glock Marussia F1 TeamEUR3m
12. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber EUR1m
= Romain GrosjeanLotus F1 TeamEUR1m
14. Nico HulkenbergForce India F1EUR500,000
= Sergio PerezSauberEUR500,000
= Vitaly PetrovCaterham F1 TeamEUR500,000
= Pedro de la RosaHRTEUR500,000
18. Pastor MaldonadoWilliamsEUR400,000
= Daniel RicciardoScuderia Toro RossoEUR400,000
= Jean-Eric VergneScuderia Toro Rosso EUR400,000
21. Bruno SennaWilliamsEUR250,000
= Narain KarthikeyanHRTEUR250,000
23. Paul di RestaForce India F1EUR200,000
24. Charles PicMarussiaEUR150,000

What the F1 teams spent on drivers in 2012:

1. Ferrari EUR40m
2. McLaren-Mercedes EUR32m
3. Red Bull Racing EUR20m
4. Mercedes EUR18m
5. Lotus F1 Team EUR6m
6. Caterham F1 Team EUR4.5m
7. Marussia EUR3.15m
8. Sauber EUR1.5m
9. Scuderia Toro Rosso EUR800,000
10. HRT EUR750,000
11. Force India EUR700,000
12. Williams EUR650,000

To compare to the 2011 salaries, CLICK HERE