So, who isn't a pay driver?

[Koz]

Outside the top 5 teams and Toro Rosso, who do we know isn't a pay driver?

Maldonado and Hülkenberg are still bring in substantial $$ for their seats, aren't they?

[steveaki13]

Everyones a pay driver. You either pay with cash, sponsorship deal, team merchandise or by winning the team something.

[dj_bytedisaster]

Alonso comes with a hefty dowry from Santander, Hülkenberg brings money from dekra, but I'm sure both still are getting paid by the team as opposed to those who wouldn't have been given the time of day without their millions and pay the team to drive for them.

There are two types of paydrivers. On one side are the ones who attracted sponsorship deals through their achievments, like Grosjean, Alonso, Sutil, Hülkenberg, Schumacher, Koba - and those who come with sponsors to make up for a lack of merit, like Karthikeyan, Petrov, Deletraz, Lavaggi and the likes.

As was said already. In some way or other all of them are pay drivers. They either bring personal sponsors acquired through past success or they bring sponsors to buy the ride.

[CNR]

Outside the top 5 teams and Toro Rosso, who do we know isn't a pay driver?Maldonado and Hülkenberg are still bring in substantial $$ for their seats, aren't they?

you have companies willing to pay lots $$$$$ to the team if they use that driver.
alonso
Sergio Perez ?
Kimi Raikkonen hard to say they had a lot of new sponsors on the cars last year

[Tazio]

So in breif what you are basically saying is that Kimi is > Alonso? After all Kimi won a WDC while at Ferrari something Fred is yet to do. :

[52Paddy]

It's almost nostalgic to see the amount of newly hired rookies for this season all because they have the finances to support the team.

[DexDexter]

It's almost nostalgic to see the amount of newly hired rookies for this season all because they have the finances to support the team.

Fortunately they'll run out of money pretty soon and I think you're going to see some experienced drivers back pretty soon.

[nigelred5]

Fortunately they'll run out of money pretty soon and I think you're going to see some experienced drivers back pretty soon.

.....or a new round of unproven pay drivers.

[DexDexter]

.....or a new round of unproven pay drivers.

I guess it depends on the economic situation here and there....

[steveaki13]

I guess it depends on the economic situation here and there....

I think the economic situation will be bad here, but even worse there.

Seriously though, I am willing to give these guys a chance, but it is worrying for the future of F1 if so many teams are struggling.