New to F1? Learn what the Constructors’ Championship is, how teams score points, why it matters for prize money and development, and what happens in tie-breaks.

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If you’re new to Formula 1, you’ll hear the phrase “Constructors’ Championship” constantly — especially when commentators talk about team orders, development, and why a P9 vs P10 finish can be worth celebrating like a win.

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This guide breaks down what the F1 Constructors’ Championship is, how it’s scored, why teams care so much, and the most common questions beginners have.

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What is the F1 Constructors’ Championship?

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The Constructors’ Championship (officially the FIA Formula One World Championship for Constructors) is one of the two titles contested in Formula 1, alongside the Drivers’ Championship.

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In simple terms:

• Each team earns points based on where its cars finish.

• Those points add up across the season.

• The team with the most points becomes Constructors’ Champion.

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While fans often focus on the Drivers’ title, teams and team staff care deeply about the Constructors’ trophy because it directly affects money, resources, prestige, and even practical things like pit garage allocation.

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The title has existed since 1958 (the Drivers’ Championship began earlier, in 1950).

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Which teams fight for the Constructors’ title?

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For the 2026 season, F1 has 11 teams on the grid, including a new entry.

Here are the teams you’ll see competing:

• Alpine

• Aston Martin

• Audi

• Cadillac

• Ferrari

• Haas

• McLaren

• Mercedes

• Racing Bulls

• Red Bull Racing

• Williams

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How does the Constructors’ Championship scoring work?

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1) Teams enter two cars per race weekend

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Each team scores points with its cars across the season. In practice, teams usually run two full-time drivers — but the rules allow driver changes, and any points scored in that car still count for the team.

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So if a reserve driver steps in for a race, those points still go into the team’s Constructors’ total.

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2) Points are awarded for finishing positions

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In modern F1, points are awarded to the top 10 finishers in a Grand Prix:

25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1

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There are also points available in Sprint weekends (Sprint results award points to the top finishers depending on the current rules package for that season).

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Learn more about how the point systems in F1 have changed since 1950!

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3) No playoffs — just the season total

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There’s no postseason bracket or final series. The championship is simply:

 

Total points scored by both cars across all rounds

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And yes — this is why teams can be thrilled about something like P8 and P10: it’s double points into the same championship pot.

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Why the Constructors’ Championship matters so much

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1) Prize money is heavily linked to team position

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A higher finishing position in the Constructors’ Championship generally means a bigger share of Formula 1’s end-of-season financial distribution — and that can influence everything from hiring to upgrades to facilities.

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Even with modern cost controls, the gap between positions is still meaningful enough that midfield and backmarker battles can be intense for “just one place.” (Because one place can equal a lot of money.)

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2) Development time can depend on standings (the sliding scale)

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F1 uses a “sliding scale” approach for aerodynamic testing allowances — meaning teams lower in the standings can get more aero testing time than the teams at the top (who get less). This is designed to help close the field.

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In other words: finishing higher is great, but it can come with a smaller aero development allowance than teams further back.

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3) Pit garage order is set by last year’s championship

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A team’s garage position in the pit lane is typically assigned based on where they finished in the previous season’s Constructors’ Championship — champions get priority placement, and the order runs down to P10 (or P11). This can create small advantages (and sometimes disadvantages) depending on the track layout and pit lane traffic.

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Does the Constructors’ Championship affect race strategy?

Yes — constantly.

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Because the team’s points total matters most, strategies often focus on maximizing the combined result.

That can lead to:

• Team orders: A driver is asked to let a faster teammate through.

• Split strategies: One car tries a one-stop, the other tries a two-stop, increasing the chance at least one plan works.

• Risk management: If one car is safe in the points, the other might be used for aggressive strategy calls.

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This isn’t always popular with fans — but from a team’s viewpoint, it’s logical: two cars, one shared championship goal.

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How many teams have won the Constructors’ Championship?

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As of March 2026, 15 teams have won the Constructors’ Championship.

The all-time leaders include:

• Ferrari: 16 titles

• McLaren: 10 titles

• Williams: 9 titles

• Mercedes: 8 titles

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A fun historical trivia point: Brawn GP competed for one season (2009) and won the Constructors’ Championship in that single year — making their record technically perfect (1 season, 1 title).

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What happens if teams finish level on points?

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If teams are tied on points at the end of the season, the tie-break is decided by countback:

1. Most wins

2. If tied, most second places

3. If still tied, most third places
   … and so on until separated.

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This can matter a lot in close midfield fights where points totals are tight and finishing positions matter even outside the top 10.

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Quick recap: the Constructors’ Championship in 30 seconds

• It’s the team championship in F1.

• Points from both cars add up all season.

• It affects money, prestige, development time, and pit lane logistics.

• Teams will absolutely fight for P6 vs P7 in the standings because it can shape the next season.

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FAQs

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Is the Constructors’ Championship more important than the Drivers’ Championship?

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For fans and headlines, the Drivers’ title often gets more attention. For teams, the Constructors’ title can be the bigger deal because it affects finances and long-term competitiveness.

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Do teams score points for just two drivers?

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They score points for the two cars, not “only two humans.” If driver substitutions happen across the season, all points scored in that car still count.

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Do F1 drivers get prize money for winning?

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Drivers are usually paid by salary plus performance bonuses set in contracts. The bigger championship-linked payouts generally flow through the team structure rather than being “driver prize money” in the same way you might see in individual sports.

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Can a team win the Constructors’ title before the last race?

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Yes. If a team becomes mathematically uncatchable, they’ve effectively clinched it — even if the trophy is formally awarded at season’s end.