While McLaren is on the cusp of clinching a second straight constructors’ title—potentially as soon as Singapore—the battle behind is anything but settled. Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari are separated by just 18 points, and with seven grands prix and three sprints left, every finish matters.

Why second place matters

Unlike the drivers’ standings, the constructors’ order carries significant financial consequences. In 2024, the gap between second and fourth amounted to roughly $21 million in prize money, and team members’ bonuses are often tied to final position. The stakes are real—on the track and on the balance sheet.

Form after Baku

• Mercedes edged ahead of Ferrari thanks to George Russell’s second place and Kimi Antonelli’s fourth.
• Ferrari endured an underwhelming weekend with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc eighth and ninth.
• Red Bull rejoined the fight decisively with Max Verstappen’s back-to-back wins (Italy and Azerbaijan) and Yuki Tsunoda’s sixth in Baku—33 points, the team’s biggest haul since the previous year’s Chinese GP.

The run-in

With street circuits and high-downforce venues still to come, strategies will diverge and upgrades may continue to drip through. The prize is clear: prestige, momentum into 2026—and a sizeable boost to year-end rewards.