All 10 Formula 1 teams earn a certain amount of money each season from owners Liberty Media. How much did each team earn in 2020?
What ended up being a coronavirus pandemic-delayed a shortened 17-race 2020 Formula 1 season wrapped up in mid-December with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit, where Max Verstappen secured his and Red Bull’s second victory of the season.
At the end of each season, Formula 1 owners Liberty Media distribute a certain amount of earnings to each of the sport’s 10 teams, with much of those earnings based on where the teams finish in the constructor standings.
Red Bull finished in second place in the constructor standings, their highest result since the 2016 season, behind Mercedes, which have now won the last seven titles going back to the 2014 season.
More from Formula One
- Formula 1: Top Red Bull threat identified for 2024
- Formula 1: Why the Max Verstappen retirement obsession?
- Formula 1: Williams ‘mistake’ hints Logan Sargeant’s future
- Formula 1 awaiting key confirmation for 2024 season
- Formula 1: The ‘championship’ Max Verstappen only leads by 3 points
But there are other factors to consider when calculating these earnings as well.
A historical bonus is added to the earnings of the teams which have won the championship before. Among the sport’s active 10 teams, there are six former champions: Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren, Renault, Ferrari and Williams. Additionally, due to the fact that they have competed in Formula 1 since its inception in 1950, Ferrari are given a special bonus.
The amount of this bonus is not a set amount; it is determined by the total amount of earnings for the 10 teams. If that total exceeds $1.1 billion, Ferrari earn an extra 10% of it. If it is between $1.05 billion and $1.1 billion, that percentage drops to 8%. If it is between $1 billion and $1.05 billion, it drops to 6%, and if it does not exceed $1 billion, it drops to 5%.
For 2020, it did not exceed $1 billion, as the overall calculation was naturally always going to be lessened by the pandemic.
How much did each Formula 1 team earn from Liberty Media throughout the 2020 season?
Here is a list, in order of total earnings.
NOTE: All money figures from Formula Passion.
Ferrari
- 2020 finish (6th place): $85 million
- Historical bonuses: $15 million
- Ferrari bonus: $50 million
- Total earnings: $150 million
Mercedes
- 2020 finish (1st place): $124 million
- Historical bonuses: $21 million
- Total earnings: $145 million
Red Bull
- 2020 finish (2nd place): $116 million
- Historical bonuses: $16 million
- Total earnings: $132 million
McLaren
- 2020 finish (3rd place): $108 million
- Historical bonuses: $7 million
- Total earnings: $115 million
Racing Point
- 2020 finish (4th place): $100 million
- Historical bonuses: N/A
- Total earnings: $100 million
Renault
- 2020 finish (5th place): $92 million
- Historical bonuses: $5 million
- Total earnings: $97 million
AlphaTauri
- 2020 finish (7th place): $77 million
- Historical bonuses: N/A
- Total earnings: $77 million
Alfa Romeo
- 2020 finish (8th place): $69 million
- Historical bonuses: N/A
- Total earnings: $69 million
Haas
- 2020 finish (9th place): $61 million
- Historical bonus: N/A
- Total earnings: $61 million
Williams
- 2020 finish (10th place): $53 million
- Historical bonuses: $6 million
- Total earnings: $59 million
The 2021 Formula 1 season is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, March 28 with the Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit, and ESPN is set to broadcast this race live beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. The record-breaking 23-race season is scheduled to run through Sunday, December 5.