The Formula 1 gravy train shows little sign of slowing down, with lucrative broadcast and sponsorship income helping to keep the cash tills ringing.
A much wider audience is engaging with the sport as crossovers with other sectors such as the gambling industry help to fuel greater interest.
All of the best online betting sites offer tons of F1 markets, thus helping to increase viewer interest and push the sport into another stratosphere.
The drivers are undoubtedly the stars of the show where F1 is concerned – a point cemented by the eye-watering annual salaries they rake in.
A quick look at the top 10 highlights why reaching the pinnacle of motorsports has the potential to keep bank managers happy.
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – $43 million (until 2028)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – $40 million (until 2023)
- Fernando Alonso (Alpine) – $20 million (until 2022)
- Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) – $15 million (until 2022)
- Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) – $15 million (until 2023)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – $12 million (until 2024)
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – $10 million (until 2022)
- Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) – $10 million (until 2025)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – $10 million (rolling)
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull) – $8 million (until 2022)
Verstappen and Hamilton’s place at the top of the pile is no surprise given their status as the two best drivers in the championship.
They fought out a thrilling title battle in 2021, with Verstappen edging out Hamilton after a controversial final race in Abu Dhabi.
The Red Bull driver’s last-lap overtake was undoubtedly dramatic, but the way it was manipulated by the race controller sparked a major fallout.
His success denied Hamilton a record-breaking eighth world title and appears to have had a negative impact on the British star’s fortunes this season.
Hamilton is already 58 points behind championship leader Charles Leclerc, although there is plenty of time for him to claw back the deficit.
Verstappen is currently second in the standings, and the narrative of another prolonged title battle with Hamilton unquestionably helps F1 to thrive.
Several other elements have factored in to helping F1 become a global phenomenon that is showing little signs of slowing down.
Cracking the United States market has previously proved difficult, with North American fans traditionally preferring their own brand of motorsports.
However, with races lined up in Austin, Miami and a street circuit track through the heart of Las Vegas, F1 is on the rise in the US.
Hit documentary series Formula 1: Drive to Survive has also played a key role in exposing the sport to a new audience, which will help to increase revenues in the future.
Drive to Survive gives viewers exclusive behind-the-scenes access to this multibillion-dollar business, revealing never-seen-before secrets.
In some respects, the docuseries bears some similarities to a television soap opera, which serves to further fuel the interest of viewers.
The ever-changing storyline makes for compelling viewing and helps to keep F1 in the forefront of public consciousness.
This makes the sport hugely appealing to major sponsors, which keeps the money rolling into the sport.
On that basis, it is unlikely to be too long before at least one top driver’s annual salary smashes through the $50m barrier.