The Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship will be decided at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where McLaren and Ferrari will look to end their long wait for title success.
Red Bull looked set to clinch a third consecutive title at the start of the season, but a surprising dip in form has paved the way for their rivals.
McLaren appear to have taken advantage as they lead Ferrari by 21 points heading into the final race of 2024.
McLaren last won the Constructors’ Championship in 1998, while Ferrari’s last title was in 2008.
Sky Sports F1 looks at the transformations ahead of Sunday’s race at 1pm at Yas Marina Stadium.
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Matt Baker is joined by Tom Bellingham of P1 with Matt and Tommy to discuss if fans really care about the Constructors’ Championship.
Why is the constructors’ championship so important?
It’s not romantic, but the main answer is money. While the Drivers’ Championship carries more prestige, the Constructors’ Championship is what dictates the distribution of Formula 1’s sizeable prize basket.
The package is 50 per cent of F1’s commercial rights revenues for each season, so the $3.2bn (£2.3bn) profit for 2023 would result in an estimated fund of $1.6bn (£1.2bn).
After some bonuses are deducted, such as Ferrari’s five percent to recognize their contribution to the sport’s global popularity, the rest of the money is split between all 10 teams, with the champions getting about 14 percent and the team that came in last to six percent.
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Charles Leclerc says Ferrari will give it their all to challenge McLaren for the Constructors’ Championship as it heads into the final race in Abu Dhabi.
Therefore, in 2023, Red Bull’s winners would earn around $140m (£106m), with each team below them getting progressively less.
The difference between each position in 2023 is estimated to be £7m, which goes some way to explaining why the battles for the midfield and end positions are as fiercely contested as those up front.
Final positions in the Constructors’ Championship also affect the amount of wind tunnel time for the following season.
F1’s handicap system actually means that if you win the title, you get the minimum amount of wind tunnel time, with more time allowed the lower you go down the standings to 10th place.
*if you finish in the top 10
How McLaren can win the F1 Constructors’ Championship in Abu Dhabi
A maximum of 44 points can be earned in Abu Dhabi if a team has a point or two and takes the bonus point for the fastest lap of the race.
The math for McLaren is simple. If Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri score 24 points or more, McLaren will win the race. If Ferrari doesn’t win the race, McLaren will only have to score 13 points.
If both McLaren cars finish in the top four at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, it will guarantee the title.A win for either car will also secure the championship.
Of course, if Ferrari can’t get cars on the podium, it will make things a lot easier for McLaren and they can avoid a disappointing race themselves.
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Watch the moment Lando Norris received a 10-second penalty at the Qatar Grand Prix
“What I can say is that we are in the final race to lead the championship because both of our drivers have done a great job and that has given us the points that, in summary, give us the lead from a constructors’ point of view. “said McLaren team principal Andrea Stella.
“Lando has been instrumental in putting McLaren in this position. While we look at what we can do better, and of course, pain and disappointment are the predominant emotions on Lando’s part, at the same time we can only be grateful for what Lando has. : done for the team.
“We’re sure it will give him more determination to have a strong race in Abu Dhabi and finish what he couldn’t do in Qatar.”
How Ferrari can win the F1 Constructors’ Championship in Abu Dhabi
Ferrari need to score at least 22 points to have a chance of winning the title. Realistically, Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz will need to win the race and the other driver on the podium to put some serious pressure on McLaren.
Given McLaren’s 21-point advantage, Ferrari would have to outscore the Woking team by 21 points if they win the race, or 22 points if they don’t.
Ferrari have only managed to do this once all season, at the United States Grand Prix, where they took a one-two with the McLarens fourth and fifth.
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McLaren’s Zac Brown crashed a Ferrari team photo after Carlos Sainz’s win, so Sainz decided to return the favor.
“I’d rather be 21 points ahead than 21 points behind,” said Ferrari team principal Frederic Wasser.
“But let’s see, on paper I think the next one is probably a bit better for us too, fight until the last corner of the last lap.
“It’s not a matter of pressure, it’s a matter of doing a good job and being quick, and then we’ll see. We’ve been able to do (a) weekend or two during the season, (we’ll) try to do better than this.
“But it’s true that even if (we) do one or two, they can be champions, but first of all the most important thing is to focus on ourselves, don’t start thinking about what others are doing and so on, because then you you lose a bit of weekend pace.”
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Watch future teammates Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc go wheel-to-wheel at the Qatar GP Sprint
What happens if the scores are tied?
If McLaren and Ferrari are level on points, the most wins in 2024 will decide the title.
Currently, both teams are on five wins. If McLaren win the race, they are champions regardless. However, there is a scenario where Ferrari can outscore McLaren by 21 points, which is the difference between the teams, and win the race and therefore win the constructors’ championship. countdown.
If Ferrari beats McLaren by 21 points but doesn’t win the race, McLaren will be the champion because they have more second places.
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Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz reflects on the dramatic Qatar Grand Prix
Who will be the advantage in Abu Dhabi?
As expected, Las Vegas favored Ferrari and Qatar favored McLaren.As for Abu Dhabi, it should be very close as the track has a mixture of corners.
However, there are no high-speed corners that the McLaren revels in, but the last section is about slow and medium-speed cornering.
Ferrari had the fastest straight-line car overall, which would be useful at the Yas Marina track thanks to its two long back-to-back straights separated by a chicane.
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Sky Sports News’ Craig Slater gives an insight into what to expect from the blockbuster F1 season in Abu Dhabi.
It will most likely depend on which team can optimize their set-up and get the tires in the right working window, putting the pressure on the four drivers when it matters most.Given the close margins, this should help McLaren.
Max Verstappen has won the last four Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, all from pole position, so Red Bull could be a factor and Mercedes will also be there with Lewis Hamilton’s team on the final weekend.
What’s left to play for at the Abu Dhabi GP?
After the constructors’ championship, Alpine is only five points ahead of Haas in the battle for sixth.
For Haas, they are set to have one of their best campaigns in F1 since joining the sport in 2016. They finished fifth in 2018, but Haas have been eighth or lower every season.
In the drivers’ championship, Norris trails Leclerc by just eight points in the race for second place behind world champion Verstappen.
However, all eyes will be on the Constructors’ Championship and how two of F1’s most historic and famous teams can handle the pressure of the title decider.
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Ted Kravitz reports that Esteban Ocon will be replaced by Jack Doohan at the Abu Dhabi GP.
Sky Sports F1 live Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Thursday, December 5
11:00: Drivers’ press conference
Friday December 6
5.45: F1 Academy practice
7am: F2 practice
9:00 a.m. Abu Dhabi GP practice first (session starts at 9.30am)*
10.55: F2 qualifying
12.45. Abu Dhabi GP Second Practice (session starts at 13.00)*
14.30. F1 Academy Qualification*
15.15: F1 show*
Saturday December 7
8.10: F1 Academy Race One
10.15. Abu Dhabi GP third practice session (session starts at 10.30am)
12.10: F2 Sprint race
13.15. Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying
14:00. ABU DHABI GP QUALIFYING*
16:00: F1 Academy: Race Two
5:00 PM Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday, December 8
7.10: The third race of the F1 Academy
9.20: F2 feature race
11.30. Grand Prix Sunday. Abu Dhabi GP Rally
13:00 ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX
At 15:00. Checkered flag. Abu Dhabi GP reaction
16:00: Ted’s notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Watch the final race of the 2024 Formula 1 season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1 at 1pm on Sunday. Get Sky Sports F1 or stream via NOW
