F1 Glossary · history
Constructors’ Championship
The World Constructors' Championship is the annual competition where Formula 1 teams compete for points and prize money based on performance.
The Battle of the Brands
The World Constructors' Championship (WCC) is the official competition for Formula 1 teams. While fans often focus on individual drivers, the WCC determines which team is crowned the best in the world. Points are awarded to the two cars entered by each team at every Grand Prix based on their finishing positions. At the end of the season, the team with the highest cumulative points total wins the title and the lion's share of the sport's prize fund.
Why It Matters During a Race
For the teams, the WCC is often more important than the Drivers' Championship because it dictates the distribution of revenue. During a race, team strategy is frequently shaped by the need to maximize the "double points finish." If one driver is faster but their teammate is under threat from a rival team, the pit wall may issue team orders to protect their collective position. Every spot gained in the final standings can represent millions of dollars in additional funding for the following season.
Recent Examples
In 2023, Red Bull Racing secured the title with several races to spare, showcasing the engineering superiority of the RB19. Conversely, the 2021 season provided a rare split result: Max Verstappen won the Drivers' title for Red Bull, but Mercedes-AMG Petronas claimed their eighth consecutive Constructors' title. This highlights how a team with two consistently high-scoring drivers can sometimes outperform a team with one dominant champion but a struggling second driver.
Common Viewer Confusion
A frequent point of confusion is the distinction between a "constructor" and an "engine supplier." A constructor is the entity that designs and builds the car's chassis. For example, McLaren Racing is a constructor that currently uses engines supplied by Mercedes. While Mercedes earns points as a constructor for its own factory team, it does not receive WCC points for McLaren's performance. Additionally, the WCC order determines the "sliding scale" for aerodynamic testing; lower-ranked teams are granted more wind tunnel time to help them close the performance gap.
Common questions
- How are points awarded in the Constructors' Championship?
- The points system is identical to the Drivers' Championship (25 for 1st, 18 for 2nd, etc.), but a team combines the points earned by both of its cars. If a team finishes 1st and 2nd, they earn 43 points (25 + 18) plus any points for the fastest lap.
- What happens if a team changes drivers mid-season?
- The team keeps all points earned by any driver who has piloted their car during the season. While the drivers take their individual points with them to new teams, the constructor points remain with the car's manufacturer.
- Why is the prize money based on the Constructors' standings?
- Under the Concorde Agreement, the commercial rights holder distributes profits based on the team's finishing position. This ensures that the engineering and operational side of the sport is rewarded, as the teams are the entities that invest in the technology and staff.
- Can a team have negative points?
- While rare, a team can have points deducted as a penalty for technical or sporting infringements. In extreme cases, such as the 2007 'Spygate' scandal, a team can be excluded from the Constructors' Championship entirely while their drivers are allowed to keep their points.