McLaren is set to face a hiked Formula 1 entry fee thanks to clinching the Constructors’ title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Lando Norris’ victory at the Yas Marina Circuit last Sunday sealed McLaren’s first Constructors’ title in 26 years, albeit just fractionally ahead of age-old rivals Ferrari (14 points)
McLaren’s Constructor’s Championship win has caused a steep hike in its F1 entry fee, raising the price to £4.8 million ($6.1 million) for 2025.
The highest-placed constructor in F1 is expected to pay the FIA the highest entry fee, which has been raised over the last few years.
In 2025 all 10 teams must pay a base fee of $680,203, but as the best-placed team, McLaren has to pay an additional $8161 per point scored in 2024.
The remainder of the grid pays an additional $6799 per point.
The maths plays out to land McLaren with its $6.1 million bill for 2025 which totals more than its last three entry fees.
The FIA has raised the entry fee in F1, collecting £20.3 million ($25.7 million) from constructors in the new year.
This is a steep rise compared to fees from five years ago, and even £1.5 million ($2 million) more than the 2023 fee.
McLaren is set to pay more in entry fees than Aston Martin, Alpine, Haas, RB, Williams and Sauber combined.
McLaren receives biggest slice of the F1 prize pot following title success
While the nearly £5 million fare for McLaren is high, Red Bull paid the FIA £5.8 million ($7.4 million) to enter the 2024 F1 season.
That’s down to its dominant 2023 campaign, where Red Bull scored all but one Grand Prix and scored a total of 860 points, more than double that of the nearest competitor.
The Milton Keynes-based team fell to third in the Constructor’s Championship in 2024, hampered by poor car balance and Sergio Perez’s alarming form.
The net result was a points tally of 589 points and a fee of £3.6 million ($4.6 million).
While this is a positive in terms of smaller outgoing finances, Red Bull will receive a smaller some of the prize money for finishing third.
Winners McLaren takes the biggest slice of the prize pot, $140 million to Ferrari’s $131 million, while Red Bull receives $122 million.
READ MORE – McLaren adopting ‘brave risk’ approach to 2025 F1 development
