Red Bulls' Runaway Victory Could Be The Most Expensive Championship Ever

Four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel’s "relentless pursuit of victory" could drive Red Bull "to the most expensive world championship win in the history of Formula One," according to Kevin Eason of the LONDON TIMES. Red Bull is expected to pick up an estimated Â£80M ($130M) prize, but the team faces a payout of up to Â£10M ($16M) in bonuses "to the best-rewarded staff in F1," and record fees to the FIA.

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner is expected to "rubber-stamp bonus payments" to the team’s 550 staff of Â£10,000 ($16,000) each. Senior staff "are thought to have been paid up to four times more," and Vettel could receive more than Â£3M ($4.8M) "as a reward for his 11 race wins so far this season."

Because of new rules introduced this season, Red Bull’s constructor victory "comes with a massive penalty." Every point won will cost them $6,000 in entry fees next season. The team already has 513 points with two GPs still to run, which means it will have to pay at least Â£2M ($3.2M) "to enter next year’s championship." LONDON TIMES