Chasing The Bag: Breaking Down F1 Constructors Payout

Justin Cohen
·4 min read
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In F1, teams are designated by their constructors. More specifically, the Constructors are corporate entities that design certain key aspects of the F1 car. Because each team can modify certain aspects of their car, having a top-tier constructor buffing out your vehicle is integral to being at the top of the F1 world.

Constructors play an integral part in F1 because they have a deep impact on how drivers are paid. Certain teams are given monetary incentives in efforts to keep the constructor in F1. Teams like Ferrari who have been competing since F1s inaugural season in 1950 receive a bonus simply just for showing up. Here is everything you need to know about F1 constructors payout!

Who Are The F1 Constructors (F1 Teams) For The Current Season

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There are currently ten F1 Constructors for the 2022 season. Each constructor has their engine designed by a corporate entity that fund the team. The current manufacturers for the F1 constructors in 2022 are Ferrari, Red Bull, Renault, and Mercedes. Certain engine manufactures like Ferrari and Mercedes stake claim with several constructors. Here are all the constructors for the 2022 F1 season.

  • Alfa Romeo (Ferrari)

  • AlphaTauri (Red Bull)

  • Alpine (Renault)

  • Aston Martin (Mercedes)

  • Ferrari (Ferrari)

  • Haas (Ferrari)

  • McLaren (Mercedes)

  • Mercedes (Mercedes)

  • Red Bull (Red Bull)

  • Williams (Mercedes)

How Much Are The F1 Constructors Paid For Each Season?

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The amount each F1 Constructor is paid varies drastically depending on a mirade of factors. Things such as where you finish in the overall rankings, points classification, and overall revenue share from F1. After winning the Constructors Championship in 2021, Mercedes was awarded prize money worth upwards of $60 million. Ferrari on the other hand, was giving a $68 million bonus just for agreeing to stay in the racing league. Due to their high-profile status and history in the league, securing Ferrari staying in F1 is a high priority for the FIA. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton currently has the highest salary for an F1 driver, coming in at an estimated $30 million -$40 million. Other driver salaries usually range around $20 million.

  • Ferrari: $205 million

  • Mercedes: $177 million

  • McLaren: $152 million

  • Red Bull Racing: $100 million

  • Renault: $73 million

  • Haas: $70 million

  • Williams: $60 million

  • Racing Point: $59 million

  • Sauber: $56 million

  • Toro Rosso: $52 million

What Is Column 1 And Column 2 Money?

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One of the most important factor in to how winnings and payments are divided out by F1 to it’s constructors is the difference between column 1 and column 2 money. These two columns differ drastically in what percent each constructor will be paid out. There is also Column 3 payments, but only teams who fall out of the top ten qualify for this.

The method that F1 uses to divy out their prizes can be split into two different streams. The total prize money of a given race comes down to what Formula One’s profit was that day. F1 will share a little over 45% of profits for means to be distributed as prizes. A team like Ferrari will earn an extra 2.5% of prize money simply because they one of the oldest teams in F1 and their presence in the sport is integral to F1’s success.

In column 1 payments are made out equally between the top ten teams in F1 from the last three years. Team finishing in the top 10 all qualify for column 1 payments and will receive the same payment. This column accounts for a little over 23% of the payout.

Column 2 money differs drastically from that of column 1. They are similar in the sense that they only include the top 10 constructors, but column 2 money is determined by how many points your team earned. Where teams finish in the current constructors championship will designate what their payout in column 2 is.

Are There Any Bonuses in F1?

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There are some bonuses that the F1 will give out, but the specifications for receiving those rewards are a little murky. A team like Ferrari has reached a special deal with F1 that secures them a 2.5% bonus of the prize money. There a no other known bonus’s that are given, especially because individual drivers do no receive compensation based on placement in races.