A survey has revealed that world championship winner Renault spent significantly less than its main rivals on last seasonÂ’s Formula 1 campaign.
F1 Racing magazine carries out an annual study of teamsÂ’ finances, using accounts filed at Companies House and extrapolating the figures to estimate how much each team spent on various aspects of its 2005 programme.
According to its research, Renault spent an estimated $287.81 million to win both titles, far less than the $499.05 million that Toyota is thought to have ploughed into its season.
Ferrari and McLaren completed the big spendersÂ’ top three, on $432.98 million and $419.95 million respectively.
The magazine analysed teamsÂ’ expenditure in ten different categories, including research and development, wind tunnel time, testing, corporate entertainment and driver salaries.
Toyota topped six of the tables, with Renault only once nosing into the top five, and that was for the $18.25 million it is understood to have paid its drivers.
Other notable statistics include Red BullÂ’s $10.70 million outlay on corporate entertainment and the size of the spending gulf between F1Â’s biggest and smallest teams.
Minardi is estimated to have spent $0.45 million on R&D in 2005, compared to the $63.40 million that Toyota devoted to its equivalent programme.
The study suggests that the entire pit lane spent a total of $2,814,720,000 to put 20 cars on the grid for 19 races last year.
A full breakdown of the F1 spending statistics can be found in the latest issue of F1 Racing magazine, on sale now.
ITV-F1.com