Ferrari to get bumper payout despite No.2 finish

LONDON: Ferrari will be paid much more than any other Formula One team this year despite finishing runners-up to world champions Mercedes last season, according to figures published.

Autosport.com, which said it obtained projected payment details at least weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, said Ferrari were in line to receive US$192mil (RM750mil) – a 17% increase on 2015.

The figures have not been published by Formula One Management.

The Italian glamour team, the only ones to have been in the championship since it started in 1950 and the most successful, are alone in getting US$70mil (RM273mil) as a reward for their long-standing contribution.

Mercedes, winners of both constructor and driver championships for the past two seasons and of 34 of the past 40 races, will get US$17 mil (RM668mil) and third-placed Williams a mere US$87mil (RM340mil).

Red Bull, fourth in 2015, can expect US$144mil (RM562mil) thanks to two other significant negotiated payments of US$35mil (RM136mil) and US$39mil (RM152mil) – the latter a constructors’ championship bonus for their four successive titles between 2010 and 2013.

The figures indicated that McLaren, who endured their worst season in 2015 and finished ninth overall, will still receive US$82mil (RM320mil) thanks to a US$32mil (RM125mil) constructors’ bonus.

In contrast, struggling Sauber finished eighth but get “only” US$54mil (RM211mil).

Force India, who achieved the team’s best ever championship finish of fifth, also get less than McLaren even if their US$67mil (RM261mil) represents a 12% gain on 2014.

Co-owned by Indian beer baron Vijay Mallya, Force India have complained with Sauber to the European competition authorities about the sport’s governance and distribution of revenues. The revenues are gathered from race hosting fees, media rights, trackside sponsorship and hospitality.

Autosport said the 2015 total due to the 10 teams was US$965mil (RM3.77bil), nine percent up on the previous year. — Reuters