Saturday, May 9, 2026

Red Bull-Dominated Formula 1 Season Ends With Expansion Unsettled

  • Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won his 19th race of the year at the season finale.
  • It is still unknown whether an 11th expansion team will be permitted.
Red Bull Racing/X

The 2023 Formula 1 season concluded on Sunday in Abu Dhabi as Red Bull and Max Verstappen finished off the most dominant single-year run in the sport’s history.

Verstappen won his record 19th race of the season, finishing first in all but three grand prix. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez easily finished second in the drivers standings — with a 51-point gap between him and third place.

Red Bull earns an estimated $140 million for the constructors’ championship.

Mercedes — with third- and ninth-place finishes from George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, respectively — secured second in the constructors’ championship and an estimated $131 million. Ferrari’s third-place finish will likely be good for about $122 million.

Current prize money figures are based off last season’s revenue and could vary slightly.

More The Merrier?

With some on-track changes set to come in 2024 — like a new sprint race format — the biggest question for the sport is whether an 11th team will be permitted to join the grid come 2026.

General Motors has agreed to build engines for a team led by Michael Andretti and Cadillac. That bid has received approval from the FIA but is awaiting the final green light from F1 parent company Liberty Media.

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