The Formula 1 edit

Italy investigates the F1 grid and their tax paying history in the country

Article by Finley Ever

For decades, Italy has been a foundational stone in Formula 1. Imola, Ferrari, Monza. Two teams’ HQ buildings can be found in the country, and a few drivers reside here as well. So, it’s safe to say that the European country is a hub for racing activity. Well, now it is also a hub for potential tax fraud within the pinnacle of motorsport.

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With drivers making an excessive amount of money from Grand Prix, taxes need to be paid to the country the Grand Prix is held in. That being said, for the first time ever, Italian authorities are clamping down on Formula 1 drivers, speculating that these necessary taxes weren’t paid in the 2025 racing season.

Calling for a tax return from drivers, team sponsorships, and personnel, Italian law claims that if the unpaid sum is more than 50,000 Euros, it’s considered a criminal offense. Which could lead to heavy fines or possibly matters that need to be attended to legally.

These speculations have led to quite a number of fans online making their own guesses on what this could mean. The common denominator I found among various Instagram comment sections was this: If this progresses further, the only drivers that won’t be held accountable are Kimi Antonelli (Italian and already paying taxes), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari immunity), Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari immunity), and Arvid Lindblad (wasn’t a driver last year).

Since Formula 1 drivers are some of the richest athletes in the world, I would be very surprised to find out that they DIDN’T pay their taxes, but if it turns out to be true, something tells me that they’ll be paid off immediately and/or very good lawyers will get involved. Nonetheless, this sudden action from the Italians seems like it will backfire. I could see F1 and the FIA pulling out from Italy for a few years because of this.

All speculation, of course, and we shouldn’t say things confidently unless we know for sure! Stay on top of this news, though, because this definitely wasn’t something any of us had on our 2026 F1 bingo card.

Resources: Racingnews365, motorsportive, and Instagram.