A 10th place for manufacturers that will be worth gold in 2014
As the Marussia team finished in 10th place in the constructors' standings for the first time, the Russian team will not receive the expected jackpot, but it puts them in a good position to hope for one in 2014 if they manage to replicate their performance.
For the first time in its history, the Marussia F1 Team (formerly Virgin Racing) finished 10th in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship, pushing Caterham to 11th place. But contrary to what one might think, the Russian team did not collect the promised jackpot, and for Caterham, it’s not millions that are slipping away either.
It is customary to say and read that only the top 10 teams in the constructors’ championship receive a share of the television rights, and that is true with one exception for the smaller teams.
Upon their arrival in F1, the new teams were granted a specific clause giving them the right to 10 million dollars per year for all teams outside the top 10 in the Constructors’ Championship. Originally, this concerned the two teams outside the top 10 (HRT and Marussia in 2011 and Marussia in 2012).
However, regarding the potential gains from the 10th place in the constructors’ standings, a clause stipulates that a team must finish 10th place twice in the last three years to be eligible for a share of the television rights. Therefore, 2014 will be a pivotal year for Marussia, as it could claim much larger gains if it manages to finish once again in 10th place among the constructors. The Russian team could thus earn more than 30 million dollars more in 2014 if it once again manages to outperform Caterham.
But in the meantime, according to Business F1, the Russian team must settle for 14 million dollars compared to 45 for Caterham – 10 + 35 for its 10th place in 2011 and 2012.
The president and sporting director of the Marussia team did not wish to detail to Autosport the exact amount received but implicitly confirmed: « I cannot go into the details of the contract because they are confidential. But it is widely reported that in the way the mechanism works, there are elements related to our performances over a longer period of time and also last season. This really places us in a good position to build our future. »
The 10th place still changes something for Marussia as it will allow them to no longer occupy the last garage in the pit lane – which may not always be an advantage, as seen in Brazil with a line of cars stopped at the red light – and also brings better benefits such as trips granted by Formula One Management. It’s also a point of pride for the Russian team – which boasts having the smallest budget on the grid – to have been able to beat the Caterham F1 team.
