Charles Leclerc Named Most Marketable F1 Driver, Cracking Top 10 Global Athlete List

Aiming for one more race win before the 2026 Formula 1 season comes to an end, Charles Leclerc has found success in the world of motorsports, albeit away from the race tracks. Ahead of the Mexican City GP, the Monegasque driver was named the most marketable driver in motorsports by SportsPro, powered by the NorthStar Solutions Group.

The 29-year-old is currently involved in a neck-and-neck battle to secure P2 in the drivers’ championship in F1, but there was no competition in sight for him in the 17th annual list by SportsPro.

With estimated annual earnings of around $50 million in salary and sponsorship money last year, Leclerc ranked ninth overall in SportsPro’s list, headed by tennis superstar Aryna Sabalenka. However, the No. 16 driver ranked highest among the F1 and motorsports drivers, with no one else making it into the top ten.

Notably, this marks Leclerc’s second entry in the list, having previously featured on it in 2019. Not only does the credit for this achievement go down to his salary and bonus components, but it also has to do with endorsement deals tied to brands such as Richard Mille, VistaJet, APM Monaco, Eight Sleep, Chival Regal, and L’Oreal Paris.

Charles Leclerc Not the Only F1 Driver To Make It to SportsPro’s List

The 2026 edition of the list ranked global athletes on a 100-point marketability scale, based on three pillars. Brand equity made up 45 points, while an athlete’s momentum accounted for another 40. The remaining 15 points were reserved for commercial trajectory, with there being scope for the room they still have to grow.

Behind these three pillars were 27 additional marketability drivers, informed by several hundred data points per athlete. In total, a pool of 1,202 athletes across 70 sports were considered, where the F1 rankings were topped by Leclerc.

His Ferrari teammate, Lewis Hamilton, was the next driver to be featured on the list, ranking 22nd overall. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen rounded out the F1 podium with a 48th overall ranking.

No other driver managed to finish inside the top 50 names, although Mercedes’ George Russell finished 55th. The McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris also feature on the list, ranking 56th and 78th, respectively.

But now that Leclerc has tasted success away from the tracks of F1, the Monegasque driver hopes to experience similar luck on the tracks.

Charles Leclerc Eyeing Victory in Mexico With a Perfect Weekend

With morale running high on the back of two runner-up finishes, Leclerc has been vocal about the SF-26 having the potential to win a race again. Heading into the Mexico City race, Leclerc believes that this might be the best venue for him to get on the top step of the podium, but claims that his team will have to be perfect throughout the weekend.

Despite the upturn in performances, the Monegasque driver feels that Mercedes and Red Bull are still the teams to beat. However, if Ferrari were to maximize their potential, there would be no stopping them from winning the Mexican GP.

Speaking in the media pen on the arrival day in Mexico City, Leclerc stated that the biggest weakness of his team has been the lack of optimization of their package. However, the last two races have shown that Ferrari’s strategies have improved.

As such, the winner of the 2026 British Grand Prix remains confident that his team can deliver the perfect setup and optimization in Mexico City and remain in contention for a race win.

More F1 Reading

• Fernando Alonso Fan Pays $15,000 for Two-Lap Passenger Ride in 610HP DTM Car
• Max Verstappen Shrugs Off Driver Standings Fight As Red Bull Targets Constructors’ P3
• ‘I’m Built Differently’: Lewis Hamilton Rejects Age Limits Over Racing in F1 Into 2030s
• Sebastian Vettel Opens Up About Fear of Failure Under Enormous Ferrari Pressure