F1 vs. NASCAR: Who Makes More Money?

Formula 1 makes more money than NASCAR when measured by league-level revenue: Formula One Group reported roughly $3.2 billion in revenue for 2023, while NASCAR’s most visible benchmark—its U.S. media-rights income—averages about $820 million per year through 2024 and roughly $1.1 billion per year under a new deal that starts in 2025. While NASCAR’s total finances are private and include other income streams, all available indicators point to F1 generating the larger annual business globally. This article explains how the money is measured, what the latest numbers show, and why the two motorsports monetize so differently.

How to Measure “Who Makes More”

Because the two series are structured differently—and NASCAR’s finances aren’t fully public—the cleanest comparison uses widely reported, audited figures (for F1) and confirmed deal values (for NASCAR). That helps avoid apples-to-oranges conclusions and clarifies what “more money” means in this context.

• League-level revenue: What the sanctioning body (F1’s Formula One Group; NASCAR, a private company) books from media rights, race fees, sponsorship, hospitality, and other activities.
• Media-rights value: The annual value of broadcast/streaming deals, a major driver of revenue for both series.
• Global vs. domestic footprint: F1 is a global series with promoter fees and media deals across many countries; NASCAR is primarily U.S.-centric.

Taken together, these metrics offer a consistent way to gauge the size of each business, even if every line item isn’t publicly disclosed.

The Latest Hard Numbers

Here are the best-verified, recent figures that underpin the comparison, drawn from public financial reports and officially announced media agreements.

• Formula 1 revenue (2023): Approximately $3.22 billion, per Liberty Media’s Formula One Group financial disclosures, driven by race-promotion fees, global media rights, sponsorship, hospitality, and other streams.
• NASCAR media rights (2015–2024): About $8.2 billion over 10 years with Fox and NBC—roughly $820 million per year, as widely reported in industry and mainstream outlets.
• NASCAR media rights (2025–2031): About $7.7 billion over seven years—roughly $1.1 billion per year—under a new package with Fox, NBC, Amazon, and Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT/Max), as announced in late 2023.
• Scope difference: F1’s $3.2 billion is full-year league revenue; NASCAR’s media-rights values are just one (albeit large) piece of its overall, private revenue picture, which also includes sponsorships, ticketing/track income (post-merger with ISC), licensing, and sanctioning fees.

The bottom line: even granting NASCAR additional revenue beyond media rights, the public benchmarks indicate F1’s total annual revenue base is larger.

Why F1 Pulls Ahead Financially

F1’s business model capitalizes on global reach and scarcity, extracting high-value fees across many markets and amplifying commercial returns through premium positioning.

• Global race-promotion fees: F1 typically charges promoters tens of millions of dollars per Grand Prix, with some marquee events commanding premium rates.
• Worldwide media footprint: F1 sells broadcast and streaming rights market-by-market around the world, compounding revenue across regions.
• Premium sponsorship tiers: Global partners pay for worldwide exposure tied to a single, unified championship with strong brand cachet.
• High-end hospitality: Paddock Club and related experiences generate significant per-event revenue at premium price points.

Together, these elements produce a diversified, globally scaled commercial engine that outpaces NASCAR’s primarily U.S.-focused model in aggregate revenue.

What About Driver and Team Earnings?

If the question is interpreted as “who gets paid more—F1 drivers or NASCAR drivers,” the answer still favors F1 at the top end.

• F1 drivers: The biggest stars (e.g., Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton) command eight-figure base salaries with performance bonuses and endorsements that can push annual earnings well beyond most NASCAR counterparts.
• NASCAR drivers: Top names earn strong salaries and endorsements, but typical peak annual compensation is generally lower than that of F1’s highest-paid drivers.

While exceptions exist year-to-year, the upper tier of F1 driver pay usually exceeds that of NASCAR’s elite.

Caveats and Context

A few factors complicate a one-number-to-one-number comparison and are worth keeping in mind.

• NASCAR’s private finances: Without audited public reports, only pieces—like media-rights deals—are fully visible externally.
• Revenue distribution: NASCAR’s media-rights income is shared among the sanctioning body, tracks, and teams; contractual split details and other revenue streams affect how much NASCAR itself “makes.”
• Different calendars and costs: Series length, event types, and cost structures differ, shaping how revenue converts into profit for each ecosystem.

Even with these nuances, the most reliable, current indicators consistently show F1 producing more annual revenue at the league level.

Outlook: 2025 and Beyond

Both series are positioned for continued commercial strength, but their growth vectors differ.

• F1: Continued expansion in the U.S. (Las Vegas, Austin, Miami), rising sponsorship demand, and global media renewals underpin growth potential, alongside cost caps that stabilize team economics.
• NASCAR: The 2025–2031 media deal lifts annual rights value, and evolving digital/streaming windows (Amazon, Max) broaden reach; ongoing talks about team revenue sharing and charters could reshape financial distribution.

Given current trajectories, F1 is likely to retain the overall revenue lead, while NASCAR aims to optimize its domestic dominance and modernize its commercial mix.

Conclusion

Based on the most recent, verifiable data, Formula 1 generates more money than NASCAR at the league level—about $3.2 billion in 2023 versus NASCAR’s publicly known media-rights benchmarks of roughly $0.8–$1.1 billion per year. Differences in global reach, promoter fees, and premium positioning explain much of the gap, and while NASCAR’s full revenue is private and multifaceted, the available evidence points to F1 as the larger business overall.

Summary

F1 makes more money than NASCAR when comparing league-level revenue. F1 reported roughly $3.2 billion in 2023 revenue, while NASCAR’s confirmed media-rights income averages about $820 million per year through 2024 and roughly $1.1 billion starting in 2025. Although NASCAR’s total revenue includes additional streams and is not fully public, the best available data shows F1 on top—both as a global business and at the very top of driver earnings.

Is Formula 1 the richest sport?

Yes, Formula 1 is widely considered the most expensive sport due to its exorbitant costs for team operations, including car development, advanced technology, global logistics, and top driver salaries, resulting in annual team budgets of hundreds of millions of dollars. The high infrastructure costs for hosting events and the overall multi-billion dollar nature of the industry further solidify its position as the most expensive sport.
 
Reasons F1 is so expensive:

• Car and Technology: An F1 car costs millions to build, with the hybrid engine alone valued at over $10 million. Continuous investment in cutting-edge technology and engineering is necessary for performance. 
• Team Operations: Top F1 teams spend over $350 million annually on hundreds of engineers, mechanics, and data experts, along with complex global logistics and chartering flights to transport staff, cars, and equipment. 
• Host City Costs: Hosting a Grand Prix event can cost tens of millions of dollars, with some circuits costing over a billion to build. 
• Driver Talent: Top F1 drivers earn significant salaries, with some making as much as $50 million per year. 
• Global Industry: The sport is a multi-billion dollar industry with massive revenues generated from sponsorships, advertising, and ticket sales, contributing to the overall cost. 

Is NASCAR bigger than F1?

No, Formula 1 is not bigger than NASCAR. While NASCAR is more popular in the U.S., Formula 1 has a significantly larger global audience, making it a bigger sport worldwide. NASCAR focuses on closed-wheel, stock car racing for the American market, while F1 is the global pinnacle of open-wheel racing, attracting diverse international audiences and drivers.
 
Why NASCAR is bigger in the U.S.

• Domestic Appeal: NASCAR is deeply intertwined with American culture and caters to a U.S. audience with its close-knit racing, recognizable cars, and rural roots. 
• Consistent Viewership: NASCAR consistently draws large viewership numbers in the United States, often outperforming F1 for races held in the U.S. on network TV. 
• Accessibility: NASCAR events are often scheduled at times that are convenient for U.S. audiences, such as afternoons and primetimes on the East Coast. 

Why F1 is bigger globally

• Global Audience: F1 races across the world, creating a massive international fanbase that far exceeds NASCAR’s reach. 
• Pinnacle of Open-Wheel Racing: F1 is considered the highest form of open-wheel racing, known for its advanced technology and global competition. 
• Diverse Participation: F1 attracts drivers and teams from all over the world, contributing to its diverse and global character, according to The Harvard Crimson. 

The Growth of F1 in the U.S. 

• “Drive to Survive”: The popular Netflix series has significantly boosted F1’s popularity, particularly among younger audiences in the U.S.
• Strategic Expansion: F1’s expansion into major U.S. cities, such as Las Vegas and Miami, has further increased its presence and viewership in America.

Which race car driver gets paid the most?

List of F1 driver salaries for 2025

Rank	Name	Reported salary
1.	Max Verstappen	$65 million
2.	Lewis Hamilton	$60 million
3.	Charles Leclerc	$34 million
T-4.	Fernando Alonso	$20 million

What is the salary of a NASCAR driver?

Nascar Driver Salary

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay
Top Earners	$111,000	$9,250
75th Percentile	$86,000	$7,166
Average	$78,621	$6,551
25th Percentile	$50,000	$4,166