How much prize money is at stake in the F1 constructors' championship?
Andrew Walker
Published Apr 03, 2026
F1 teams don’t only fight for points, but also prize money as a result of their position in the constructors’ championship – but just how much is on offer?
It’s often said that Formula 1 teams don’t really care about the drivers’ world championship.
Yes, that’s where all the prestige and history is to add your driver’s name alongside the likes of Fangio, Stewart, Lauda, Senna, Schumacher or Hamilton, but that does not pay the bills.
Instead, that comes from the constructors’ world championship – where both drivers are needed to score big points on a regular basis.
It’s pretty simple: the better you do in the constructors’, the more money you get – and the better you can next season. It is a virtuous circle.
But just how much prize money is on offer to F1 teams in the constructors’ world championship? How does F1 raise the money?
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F1 constructors’ championship prize money
Formula 1 itself raises the prize money through a variety of ways.
Broadcasting rights, race hosting fees and sponsor deals all add up to a healthy pot of prize money which can then be divvied up among the teams, according to the constructors’ championship standings.
The total pool of revenue raised by F1 has taken a slight hit in the past couple of years due to the pandemic, but the situation has improved as the series has bounced back.
This revenue is split between two parties.
Most of it goes to F1 itself and shareholders, but the rest is handed out to the teams in two different columns.
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Every team is paid a basic flat rate of money for being in the championship.
This is known as ‘Column 1 money.’ It’s about $35 million per team.
Column 2 is the prize money received by your finishing position in the F1 constructors’ championship the previous year.
For winning the 2015 constructors’ championship, Mercedes pocketed $63.5 million.
Some teams also received extra prize money – like Ferrari – simply for being in F1 for so long.
Cost cap comes into force
To rein in the spending of F1 teams, and make things more equal for every team in the pit-lane, a cost cap has now come into force.
Teams are limited to spending just $140 million across the season – this having been reduced from $145 million in 2021.
The idea is to allow some of the smaller teams to be able to compete with behemoths like Mercedes and Ferrari on a more regular basis, while still being able to be sustainable and turn a healthy profit.
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