Sammy3469
Footballguy
Which is why they were trying to keep both happy for most of the year (I also don't think they thought they would catch up to Red Bull). I do think they totally flubbed Monzo trying to keep both happy. There's a time an a place for that, but at this point they know Lando (or Piastri) will slowly pull away given clean air, but their starts need work. They need to protect that advantage (especially since the drop in points from 1 to 2 is much greater than 2 to 3).That's interesting. My thinking earlier in the thread assumed that the individual championship was worth more, but I've only been following F1 for a bit more than a year, so wouldn't be surprised to learn that that's a bad assumption.We're talking millions of dollars, not a few bucks. The analysts I've heard talk about it seem to agree the team championship is more important for the team and the brand. Red Bull isn't trying to tank to get more wind tunnel time.It would be an interesting analysis - but I suspect the opposite is true. More sponsorship money and exposure for the team in having the World Champion, and no downside.If I'm McLaren, the Constructor's title is worth much more to me than Norris getting the driver title.
The Constructor's Championship is actually a bit of a Pyrrhic victory - yes you get a few more dollars, but it also comes with the cost of development time in the following season, and with the 2026 car coming around the corner, I don't think McLaren are going to be pleased to see that development time cut next season - as that can have knock-on effects for several seasons.
I suspect that Mercedes is secretly happy (now) that they are 4th in the Constructor's championship leading into next season.
I don't buy the argument that teams would downgrade the World Constructors' Championship in order to get a 5% increase in wind tunnel and CFD time the following season. In particular, McLaren hasn't won the constructors' title this century. It would be huge for them to win it this year after spending much of the last decade mired in the midfield.
The drivers' championship gets more popular and media attention but the prize money is paid out based on constructors' points.
There's also the fact that now, if they can keep Piastri between Lando and Max, that Lando has a pretty darn good chance of beating Max especially if the Red Bull is the 3rd of 4th best car. That sort of requires Piastri to be on board with it and would also win the Constructors. The degragation in Red Bull since the summer break has forced them to change what they're doing.



