F1 constructors prize money: who can still climb before season end?
The final stretch of 2025 isn’t just about trophies—it’s budget power. Understanding the f1 prize money distribution (Column 1 vs legacy components) explains why teams fight to the last lap for every position. In this guide, we quantify the stakes (e.g., the typical P3 vs P4 delta), show who can still move up or down based on current standings, and provide worked permutations you can test in our simulator: /simulate.
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Constructors standings (post‑Mexico)
| Pos | Team | Points | Gap to next |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McLaren | 713 | — |
| 2 | Ferrari | 356 | 1 to Mercedes |
| 3 | Mercedes | 355 | 9 to Red Bull |
| 4 | Red Bull Racing | 346 | 235 to Williams |
| 5 | Williams Racing | 111 | 39 to RB |
| 6 | RB | 72 | 3 to Aston Martin |
| 7 | Aston Martin | 69 | 7 to Haas |
| 8 | Haas | 62 | 2 to Sauber |
| 9 | Sauber | 60 | 40 to Alpine |
| 10 | Alpine | 20 | — |
Remaining events: Brazil Sprint, Brazil GP, Las Vegas GP, Qatar Sprint, Qatar GP, Abu Dhabi GP (max 116 pts available per team if they scored a 1‑2 at each GP and 1‑2 in Sprints; real‑world totals will be lower due to two‑car scoring constraints).
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How prize money is allocated (Column 1 vs Column 2)
The publicly known structure splits team payments into:
- Column 1: Equal share to all teams that meet participation criteria
- Column 2: Performance‑based share by constructors finishing position
- Historic/bonus deals: Legacy or special payments (not uniform across teams)
Exact dollar figures are not published; however, a conservative synthesis of public reporting suggests the P3 vs P4 swing typically sits in the ~$10–15M range season to season. See our explainer for methodology: /blog/f1-constructors-prize-money. In a cost‑cap era, that delta can fund aero upgrades, facilities, or driver academy programs—and it accumulates when combined with sponsor escalators linked to finishing position.
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Who can still move up/down—and what it means
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P2–P4 (Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull): Only 10 points cover Ferrari (356) to Red Bull (346). That’s one good weekend. With Brazil a Sprint round, a 1‑place net in Sprint + a podium swing in the GP can reshuffle the order. Estimated financial swing from P2↔P4 spans multiple eight figures across Column 2 shares and sponsorships.
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P5–P9 (Williams, RB, Aston Martin, Haas, Sauber): A 12‑point band from P6 (RB 72) to P9 (Sauber 60). These positions typically carry multi‑million deltas year‑over‑year. The biggest lever here is reliability: back‑half points are scarce, so a single double‑finish often flips two places.
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P10 (Alpine): With 20 points, Alpine needs multiple double‑scoring weekends and attrition ahead to escape P10; mathematically possible with 116 available, but low base rate.
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Final‑stretch targets by team (practical)
| Team | Current | Target to beat next rival | Practical route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrari | 356 | +2 vs Mercedes | Qualify ahead, protect track position; Brazil Sprint net +1 helps |
| Mercedes | 355 | +1 vs Ferrari | Undercut window; capitalize on pit‑stop delta; manage tire life |
| Red Bull | 346 | +10 vs Ferrari | One win weekend or dual top‑fives plus Sprint net |
| Williams | 111 | Defend vs RB (‑39) | Bank small points; deny RB/Aston with P9–P10 finishes |
| RB | 72 | +3 vs Aston | One double‑finish likely flips; prioritize reliability |
| Aston Martin | 69 | +7 vs Haas | Optimize quali; avoid Lap 1 loss; fight for P9–P10 |
| Haas | 62 | +2 vs Sauber | Execute stops; tire warm‑up; opportunistic VSC |
| Sauber | 60 | +? vs Haas/Aston | One P8 weekend can jump two rivals |
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Simulator: constructors permutations you can test now
Use our championship simulator to test these scenarios:
🏎️ Link to -> https://racemate.io/simulate
Test these scenarios:
- P2 reshuffle: Ferrari Sprint P3 + GP P4; Mercedes Sprint P2 + GP P3; Red Bull Sprint P1 + GP P2 → Mercedes jumps Ferrari; Red Bull narrows to ≤5.
- Midfield flip: RB double‑scores P8/P10 and Aston P9; Haas outside top 10 → RB → P6, Aston holds P7, Haas falls to P8.
- Williams defense: Williams P9; RB outside; Aston P10 → Williams keeps P5 buffer; RB vs Aston remains within a race.
Run unlimited permutations here: /simulate. Start with Brazil, then cascade to Vegas and Qatar to see how quickly P2–P4 and P6–P9 reorder.
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Cost cap implications and historical context
- Cost cap: Prize money does not increase the cap but funds operations and longer‑cycle investments (facilities, tools, people). Better finishing positions ease the trade‑offs of staying within the cap while improving underlying performance.
- History: Late‑season jumps have swung millions before—teams that made P6→P5 or P8→P6 gains turned that into off‑season development speed. For background: /blog/f1-constructors-prize-money and /blog/f1-standings-explained-2025-drivers-vs-constructors.
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FAQ
How does F1 prize money distribution work for teams?
Teams receive an equal share (Column 1), a performance share based on finishing position (Column 2), and some receive legacy/bonus payments. Exact figures aren’t public but the structure is stable.
What is the typical P3 vs P4 prize money difference?
Estimates from public reporting suggest roughly ~$10–15M season to season, excluding sponsor escalators. The real number varies annually.
Do Sprints affect prize money directly?
Indirectly. Sprint points influence the final constructors standings, which drive Column 2 shares. There’s no separate “prize money” for Sprints.
Does the cost cap limit teams from spending prize money?
Yes. The cap constrains performance spending, but prize money strengthens the overall balance sheet—funding cap‑compliant performance and longer‑term investments.