Formula 1 may be dominated by engineering giants and lavish budgets, yet some of its most memorable moments come when a plucky constructor punches above its weight. The F1 points system rewards consistency and technical brilliance, but every so often a clever rule interpretation or a chaotic race shakes up the established order. In a season such as 2025, where Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris lead the drivers’ standings for McLaren and the Woking outfit sits atop the constructors’ championship, it can feel like only major manufacturers stand a chance. Yet history shows that real drama often comes from unexpected quarters. This piece explores constructors who won against the odds — either by capturing the world championship or taking seismic race wins — and considers what made their breakthroughs possible.

How the Constructors’ Championship Works

The Formula 1 World Constructors’ Championship was introduced in 1958, a year after the drivers’ crown. Points are awarded to teams based on the finishing positions of their cars in each grand prix. The exact F1 points system has evolved (and now includes bonus points for the fastest lap and the sprint format), but generally the top ten finishers score points in descending order. Every team nominates two cars; both can score, so reliability and depth are just as important as outright speed. For a deeper dive into how points are distributed — including how sprint race points and fastest‑lap bonuses work — check out our explainer on the constructors’ points system and our guide to sprint‑race points.

Brawn GP’s 2009 Fairytale

When Honda abruptly pulled out of Formula 1 at the end of the 2008 season, it looked as if hundreds of jobs and a year’s worth of development were about to be discarded. Team principal Ross Brawn stepped in, buying the operation for a symbolic £1 and renaming it Brawn GP. With Honda gone, the team hastily adapted the car to accept a Mercedes V8 and re‑designated the chassis BGP 001. It didn’t even receive official entry approval from the FIA until 12 days before the season opener.

Pre‑season testing hinted at something extraordinary. The BGP 001 was more than a second quicker than rivals and ran faultlessly during long stints. The secret lay in the now‑famous double diffuser, a clever interpretation of new aerodynamic rules that generated huge downforce. While Toyota and Williams had similar designs, the Brawn was superior. On race debut in Australia, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello locked out the front row and delivered a one‑two finish. Button then won six of the first seven grands prix, giving Brawn a 39.5‑point lead in the constructors’ standings after just seven rounds.

Despite a shoestring budget and virtually no mid‑season development, the early points cushion proved decisive. Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren clawed back performance, but Brawn’s drivers continued to rack up solid finishes. By the Brazilian Grand Prix, both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles were secured, making Brawn GP the only team ever to win the world championship in its debut season. Within months the squad was sold to Mercedes, yet its 2009 triumph remains the benchmark underdog story in F1.

Matra’s French Revolution in 1969

Long before multi‑national automotive groups dominated F1, the Matra team entered the sport with aerospace know‑how and bold ideas. French oil company Elf backed the project, and engineer Ken Tyrrell fielded customer Matra chassis powered by the Ford‑Cosworth DFV V8. In only its second full season, the renamed Matra International** squad produced the lightweight MS80 and recruited Jackie Stewart. Stewart’s supreme driving delivered six wins from 11 races, and the team scored a commanding one‑two finish on home soil at the French Grand Prix. Matra claimed both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships in 1969, becoming the first French constructor to win the title. No other French marque has matched the feat.

Matra’s success was particularly impressive because the works team focused on its own V12 engine programme, leaving Tyrrell’s satellite outfit to run the Cosworth‑powered cars that actually scored the points. It proved a masterstroke, highlighting how privateer ingenuity and the right driver can topple bigger organisations.

Benetton’s Rise with Schumacher

The roots of the Benetton Formula team trace back to the struggling Toleman outfit. After purchasing Toleman in 1985, the Italian clothing company built a steady midfield operation. The signing of a young Michael Schumacher in 1991 — along with technical masterminds Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne — transformed Benetton into title contenders. The 1994 season was tainted by controversy over alleged illegal software, but Schumacher still clinched the drivers’ crown. The following year left no doubt. Schumacher dominated 1995 with nine wins, while teammate Johnny Herbert added two more victories, securing Benetton’s first and only constructors’ championship. Smart management, aggressive strategies and clever interpretation of the regulations allowed Benetton to beat the better‑funded Williams team to the title.

Benetton’s triumph is often overlooked because of Schumacher’s later success with Ferrari, but it showed how a mid‑budget team could combine talented personnel and innovative car design to punch above its weight. Soon after the championship, Benetton slid back into the midfield and was eventually sold to Renault. Still, the 1995 season stands as proof that nimble organisations can conquer giants.

Jordan’s Spa Sensation

Sometimes a single race can define a constructor’s legacy. The Jordan Grand Prix team, founded by charismatic Irishman Eddie Jordan, spent the 1990s as lovable midfield underdogs. Their breakthrough came at the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix, a race remembered for torrential rain and extraordinary chaos. On the opening lap at Spa‑Francorchamps, a multi‑car accident eliminated half the field. Later, championship leader Michael Schumacher collided with David Coulthard while lapping him. Amid the mayhem, Jordan drivers Damon Hill and Ralf Schumacher found themselves running first and second.

Jordan seized the moment. Team orders prevented the younger Schumacher from challenging Hill, ensuring the team’s maiden victory. The one‑two finish was a fairy‑tale result for a squad operating on a fraction of the budget of Ferrari or McLaren. Although Jordan never mounted a sustained title challenge, that rainy afternoon in the Ardennes cemented its reputation as one of F1’s great opportunistic winners.

Toro Rosso and AlphaTauri: Monza Miracles

The Faenza‑based team founded as Minardi spent two decades as the paddock’s perpetual underdog, scoring points sparingly yet winning fans with its spirit. When Red Bull bought the outfit in 2005 and renamed it Scuderia Toro Rosso, results improved but few expected an upset. At the 2008 Italian Grand Prix, in torrential conditions at Monza, rookie Sebastian Vettel took a shock pole position. He built a comfortable lead on Sunday and crossed the line more than 12 seconds clear of Heikki Kovalainen, becoming the youngest grand prix winner at the time and delivering Toro Rosso its maiden victory. Remarkably, the junior team finished ahead of its senior Red Bull sibling in the championship that year.

A similar script unfolded 12 years later. By 2020 the team had been rebranded AlphaTauri, but it still lurked in the midfield. At Monza, a stop‑go penalty for Lewis Hamilton and a safety‑car‑induced pit‑stop shuffle vaulted Pierre Gasly into the lead. Gasly fended off Kimi Räikkönen and Carlos Sainz to secure the only win under the AlphaTauri name. Like Vettel before him, Gasly’s triumph was a timely reminder that fortune and opportunism can allow a small team to topple giants at Monza.

Other Underdog Flashes

Not every shock result earns a championship, but they add to F1’s rich tapestry. In 1990, Minardi driver Pierluigi Martini qualified on the front row for the United States Grand Prix and finished seventh despite normally running at the back. Mark Webber’s fifth‑place finish on his debut for Minardi at the 2002 Australian Grand Prix felt like a victory for the tiny Italian outfit. More recently, Esteban Ocon’s 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix win for Alpine came after a first‑lap pile‑up took out several favourites; Ocon, who had qualified eighth, inherited the lead and defended against Sebastian Vettel while teammate Fernando Alonso famously held off Lewis Hamilton. These moments underline F1’s capacity for surprises when conditions conspire.

Why Do Underdogs Prevail?

Underdog success in Formula 1 rarely happens by accident. Several factors help smaller constructors bridge the gap:

  • Regulation Changes: Major rule resets can level the playing field. Brawn’s double diffuser exploited aerodynamic loopholes in 2009. Matra’s lightweight MS80 chassis and innovative structural fuel tanks were cutting‑edge for 1969.

  • Weather and Chaos: Rain and first‑lap accidents turn races into lotteries. Jordan’s Spa victory and AlphaTauri’s Monza win were built on capitalising when others faltered.

  • Driver Brilliance: Exceptional talent maximises every opportunity. Jackie Stewart, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly all delivered flawless performances when it mattered.

  • Strategic Boldness: Smaller teams often take risks the front‑runners avoid. Aggressive tyre calls or opportunistic pit stops can vault an outsider into the lead.

  • Reliability and Consistency: The constructors’ points system rewards finishing both cars. Brawn’s early reliability created a cushion that rivals couldn’t overturn.

The Current Landscape: 2025 Season Snapshot

As of 24 August 2025, the F1 pecking order looks very different from the stories above. McLaren sits atop the constructors’ standings with 559 points thanks to the consistent brilliance of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Ferrari trails on 260 points and Mercedes on 236. In the drivers’ championship, Piastri leads with 284 points, narrowly ahead of Norris on 275, while four‑time champion Max Verstappen is third on 187. It may feel like the era of underdogs is over, yet F1’s history warns against complacency. A well‑timed regulation change in 2026 or an unexpected rain shower at Suzuka could hand glory to a surprise contender.

Conclusion

Formula 1 thrives on the tussle between giant manufacturers and resourceful outsiders. From Brawn GP’s fairytale championship to Matra’s French revolution and the shock wins of Jordan, Toro Rosso and AlphaTauri, the sport’s greatest stories are often written by those who weren’t supposed to win. These triumphs remind us that innovation, opportunism and a dash of luck can overcome financial might. With new regulations on the horizon and talented rookies like Kimi Antonelli emerging, the next underdog tale could be just around the corner. Keep your eye on the live points table — and let RaceMate update you in real time — because Formula 1 will always have room for the unexpected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which F1 constructor has won the championship in its debut season?

Only Brawn GP has achieved this feat. The team rose from the ashes of Honda’s withdrawal, exploited the 2009 aerodynamic rules with a clever double diffuser and clinched both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles in its maiden campaign.

Has any French constructor won the Formula 1 World Constructors’ Championship?

Yes. Matra became the first — and so far only — French constructor to win the championship when Jackie Stewart powered the MS80 to six victories in 1969. The team was effectively run by Ken Tyrrell and used a Ford‑Cosworth engine, but the points were scored under the Matra name.

Was Benetton considered an underdog when it won the 1995 constructors’ title?

Absolutely. Although Michael Schumacher had already claimed the 1994 drivers’ crown, the Benetton team operated on a smaller budget than rivals like Williams and Ferrari. Through smart hiring, innovative car design and flawless driving, they dominated 1995 with nine wins from Schumacher and two from Johnny Herbert, earning their only constructors’ championship.

What are some notable underdog race wins?

Several races stand out: Jordan’s one‑two finish at the rain‑soaked 1998 Belgian Grand Prix; Sebastian Vettel’s pole‑to‑flag victory for Toro Rosso at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix; Pierre Gasly’s unexpected triumph for AlphaTauri at Monza in 2020; Minardi’s front‑row start at Phoenix in 1990; Mark Webber scoring fifth on his debut for Minardi in 2002; and Esteban Ocon’s 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix win for Alpine after a chaotic opening lap.

How does the constructors’ points system work?

Teams nominate two cars. Both cars can score points based on their finishing position — 25 for first, 18 for second, 15 for third and so on down to one point for tenth place. An extra point is awarded for the fastest lap if the driver finishes in the top ten. Points from sprint races also contribute to the championship. Check out our detailed explainer and our guide to sprint‑race point for more information.

Who is leading the 2025 Formula 1 championship right now?

After 13 races, Oscar Piastri leads the drivers’ standings with 284 points, with teammate Lando Norris close behind on 275 and Max Verstappen third with 187. McLaren heads the constructors’ table with 559 points, followed by Ferrari on 260 and Mercedes on 236. These standings will change as the season progresses, so follow our app to stay up to date.