In the lead-up to the 2025 Formula 1 season, all teams will receive prize money based on their performance in the previous year. Thus, all points collected in the championship are not only important for the final standings, but also for the bank balance in the new season. As it turns out, Red Bull, which fell back to third place among the constructors last year, is the biggest loser.
Before the new season is ushered in with the Australian GP, Formula 1 presents the 2024 financial report. The German publication BILD was given access to the figures of the premier class and revealed which teams are making progress in the anniversary year — and which are not. In total, Formula 1 owner Liberty Media is said to have generated a record turnover of around 3.411 billion dollars in 2024.
Of this, 1.266 billion dollars is paid out to the participating teams, although not every racing stable receives the same amount. Formula 1 distributes the prize money based on the final standings of the previous year. This makes constructors’ champion McLaren the big winner, while former title holder Red Bull takes a significant hit. In total, six teams receive more budget than last year, while three teams have to make do with less money, according to BILD.
Winners and Losers
As the winner of the constructor’s title, McLaren received a whopping 51 million dollars more than last year. The total amount increased from 117 million dollars in 2024 to 168 million dollars in the current Formula 1 season. Ferrari also made gains; the Scuderia received an additional 34 million dollars and, thanks to the controversial history bonus, is now the leader in Formula 1. In total, the Italians receive 242 million dollars. Haas, Alpine, Aston Martin, and Racing Bulls also saw increases.
Red Bull suffered the most losses. Partly due to Sergio Pérez’s disappointing season, the team fell back to third place last year. This represents a loss of about 32 million dollars. Where the Austrian racing team received 184 million dollars in 2024, the team now has to make do with ‘only’ 152 million dollars. Mercedes and Williams also saw decreases compared to the previous season.
