Hamilton, Schumacher, Vettel, Verstappen: F1's biggest contracts ever

British driver Lando Norris signed a long-term deal with McLaren this week, but it’s not the most lucrative in Formula One history, Daily Star have reported.

The new contract that he signed until 2025 is reportedly worth close to £80 million, which works out at an average of about £20 million each season.

It is an eye-watering sum of money for a 22-year-old, but his four podium finishes and an overall sixth position in the standings will give him hope that he can challenge this year for a world title.

But after putting pen to paper on such a contract, Daily Star decided to take a look back at some of the biggest deals in F1 history, and a host of legends feature.

German great Michael Schumacher left Benetton to join Ferrari in 1996 and the deal that he was offered was the largest in the sport’s history at the time.

The contract was worth £91 million, which worked out at about £22.75 million a year – considering this was almost 26 years ago, it is a staggering amount.

He went on to achieve greatness and win five consecutive world titles from 2000-2004, so it seems the payout was definitely worth it.

In 2007, Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen signed a three-year deal with Ferrari which was worth more than £112 million – that’s just over £37 million a season, but he would go on to win the world championship that year, pipping Lewis Hamilton.

Speaking of Hamilton, he seems to divide opinion in the motor racing world, but no one can argue that he is one of the greatest drivers of all time, and in 2016, Mercedes wanted to reward him.

A three-year contract worth more than £103 million was given to him by the constructors, which is about £1.47 million a race.

Add to that all the sponsorships and other incentives in the contract,