Oscar Piastri is not only leading the Formula One World Championship — he’s racing ahead in the wealth game too. The 23-year-old McLaren driver added another monumental victory to his growing legacy after winning the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, beating teammate Lando Norris by 2.4 seconds and securing his fifth victory this season. But beyond championship points, this victory has had a serious impact on his bank account.

According to financial estimates, Piastri’s net worth before the Spanish GP hovered around $8 million, driven by his McLaren salary, performance bonuses, and rising endorsements with brands like Google and Castore. However, the win in Barcelona, along with his ongoing streak of podium finishes, is speculated to boost his total valuation to at least $10.5 million, factoring in race winnings, team bonuses, and new brand interest following his latest performance.

Meanwhile, the spotlight also turned to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen — and not for the reasons he’d prefer. The reigning world champion’s race was marred by late-race chaos, a controversial collision with George Russell, and a subsequent 10-second penalty that demoted him from fifth to tenth. Verstappen, whose pre-race net worth was reportedly $90 million, may not suffer financially from a single penalty, but the reputational impact could ripple across his marketability. Some sports analysts suggest the incident might cool future high-profile sponsorships, potentially slowing his projected earnings growth for 2025.

Piastri’s win — which came from a clean pole start to a flawless finish — was a masterclass in consistency. He extended his lead in the championship to 10 points over Norris and continues to build momentum that sponsors dream of. This kind of dominance early in a season tends to open doors beyond the track: luxury endorsements, brand partnerships, and appearance fees from global circuits of sport and fashion alike.

While Norris finished a solid second and Charles Leclerc took third for Ferrari after overtaking Verstappen, the bigger drama unfolded after a late safety car following Kimi Antonelli’s crash. Verstappen, fitted with hard tyres while most others had softs, struggled during the restart and was overtaken by Leclerc. What followed was a controversial defense against George Russell, resulting in contact and an eventual penalty.

Russell, who finished fourth, remarked that Verstappen’s maneuver felt “deliberate” and more reminiscent of arcade driving than Formula One etiquette. The FIA stewards agreed, stating that Verstappen’s refusal to clearly yield and sudden acceleration into Russell’s car “undoubtedly caused the collision.”

Behind them, Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg pulled off a heroic fifth-place finish, overtaking Lewis Hamilton late in the race. Isack Hadjar impressed once again with a seventh-place finish for Racing Bulls, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Spanish veteran Fernando Alonso — finally scoring his first points of the season — completed the top ten alongside a penalized Verstappen.

As the 2025 F1 season gears up for its next chapter in Montreal at the Canadian Grand Prix on June 15, all eyes are now on whether Piastri’s title charge — and surging net worth — will continue to rise. With his confidence peaking and financial value skyrocketing, the McLaren driver is quickly becoming the face of a new era in Formula One.