How much prize money does the F1 constructors champion receive?
In the world of F1, there’s an infamous saying that goes, “Cash is King.” F1 generates enormous revenue and secures many lucrative deals around the world. While teams are competing for points, money also plays a vital role in their success.
There is a significant amount of money that flows into F1, raised through various means, such as race hosting fees, sponsor deals, and broadcasting rights. This money is then divided among the ten teams, known as constructors. However, there is a significant gap between the highest and lowest-ranking teams in terms of payouts.
It is important to note that the teams are paid a fee for being in the sport. Ferrari is given extra incentives because of their long association with F1. The FIA prioritizes Ferrari and pays them a bonus of $60 million just for turning up. The numbers for the constructors vary each year depending on numerous factors. It depends on the rankings and the overall revenue of F1 in a particular season.
Related: How many constructors’ titles have Mercedes won?
How does F1 share its profit with teams?
The prize money is just one source of income for the teams. The prize pot is approximately $900 million, divided among the teams. It depends on the team’s performance, the points scored, fastest laps, among other factors. There is no fixed amount, the money received by the constructors varies each year.
There is column one and column two money. In column one, the teams get paid equally. This is about 23% of the payout. In column two, the incentives depend on the points earned by the teams and their current position in the constructor’s championship. Ferrari gets a bonus of 2.5% of the prize money. They have an extraordinary record of winning 16 titles, followed by Williams and McLaren with nine and eight titles, respectively. Mercedes has eight constructor titles, and Red Bull has five.
The top ten finishes in each Grand Prix receive prize money, which means individual races also receive cash prizes. Apart from all this, the sponsorships and commercial deals with brands bring money into teams. The team that finishes first in the constructors earns the most.
How the Prize money was distributed for the 2022 F1 season?
Of the staggering $1.1 billion disbursed as prize money, a quarter is dedicated to teams that have held the championship title. In addition, its long-standing association with F1 allows Ferrari to claim a significant amount beyond their title winnings. Surprisingly, not Red Bull, but rather Ferrari, which commands the most substantial payout. A total of $200 million is attributed to the famed Italian constructor, followed by Red Bull’s $169 million, and Mercedes’ $159 million, a mere $10 million less than the champion team.
McLaren, despite an underwhelming performance in 2022, received a substantial $113 million, while Alpine follows closely with $112 million. Even Williams, a team struggling at the bottom of the grid, outperformed the likes of Haas and AlphaTauri with an impressive payout of $80 million.
The Impediments of Winning a Constructor’s Title
Winning an F1 constructor’s championship is undoubtedly a moment of great triumph and honor. However, the reality is that it comes with its share of challenges and constraints. The FIA has a crucial role in ensuring that the playing field remains level, with regulations aimed at controlling costs and promoting competitiveness. Two of the most significant hurdles are reduced wind tunnel testing time and higher entry fees. These measures aim to prevent dominant teams from running away with the championship year after year, thereby ensuring that the sport remains exciting.
1. Reduced testing time
Winning the Constructor’s Championship in the highly competitive world of F1 brings glory and drawbacks. One of the limitations is the limited testing time during the off-season that teams face, owing to the regulations set forth by the FIA to curb costs and maintain competitiveness. Consequently, the team’s ability to develop and refine their car for the following season may be hampered.
Moreover, the wind tunnel testing rules operate on a sliding scale, where the team that emerged victorious in the previous year’s World Constructors’ Championship is granted the least testing time. In contrast, the last-placed team is granted the most. As per the latest format, implemented for the 2021 season, the teams’ wind tunnel testing time was reduced from 65 runs to 40, with the top team being allowed to perform 90% of those 40 runs, and the team that finished last in the championship standings receiving an additional number of runs.
2. Higher entry fees
Adding to the drawbacks, each team has to pay a substantial entry fee to compete in the F1 as stipulated by the 2023 FIA Sporting Regulations. The entry fee comprises a flat rate of $617,687, with an additional points fee per team based on their ranking in the Constructors’ Championship. The fees have been increased for the reigning constructors’ world champion and the remaining nine teams, amounting to $7,441 and $6,174 per point, respectively.
Red Bull Racing, having secured both the drivers’ and the constructors’ championships with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, is expected to bear the brunt of these elevated costs. Assuming the team pays all three fees, it will incur a total expenditure of $8,869,008, including the $6,242,636 entry fee and the individual drivers’ fees of $969,636 and $656,736 for Verstappen and Perez, respectively. In sum, the financial toll of competing in F1 is substantial, with the FIA fees amounting to nearly eight million dollars for the championship-winning team.
Which constructor has been the most successful in F1?
Since its inception in 1958, it has witnessed several racing teams that have risen to the forefront, establishing their dominance over their competitors. Ferrari has been the most prolific, boasting 16 constructor titles and 15 driver titles in F1. Williams with a respectable tally of nine constructor titles, occupies a distant second place. Meanwhile, despite being the first constructor to secure a victory in the inaugural season of F1, Vanwall has failed to add another title to their name since that initial success.
Here is a list of the most successful constructors in the history of F1:
Team | Constructor Titles | Driver Titles |
Ferrari | 16 | 15 |
Williams | 9 | 7 |
McLaren | 8 | 12 |
Mercedes | 8 | 9 |
Lotus | 7 | 6 |
Red Bull | 5 | 6 |
Cooper | 2 | 2 |
Brabham | 2 | 4 |
Renault | 2 | 2 |
Benetton | 2 | 2 |
In conclusion, F1 is a highly competitive, fast-paced, and lucrative business, with the most successful teams earning vast sums of money. However, it is worth noting that winning a constructors’ championship comes with a few drawbacks, such as reduced testing time and higher entry costs. Furthermore, the FIA takes a significant cut of the prize money, with 45% of the total earnings going towards the governing body’s operational costs.
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