A Formula One victory costs an average of 135 million euros, but reigning world champion team Ferrari last year paid less than a third of that for a win, according to a report released on Tuesday.
Drawn up by a Bologna research agency, Stage Up-Sport&Leisure, the study found that the 135 million euros needed for a victory was more than four times the seasonal budget cap the international racing federation FIA would like to see teams adopt in 2010.
Looking at the 2008 season, the report found that with its eight victories Ferrari paid 41 million euro a win compared to 57.1 million euros paid by McLaren, 101.4 million euros by Toro Rosso and 290 million euros by BMW Sauber for its only victory of the season.
The 702 championship points awarded last year, the study calculated, cost an average of 3.5 million euros each.
Here again Ferrari paid less, only 1,9 million euros a point as opposed to 2.1 million euros paid by BMW Sauber and 2.3 million euros by McLaren.
The teams which had the worst season last year in terms of cost efficiency and results were Honda and Toyota, with the first spending 22.5 million euros a point and the second 6.3 million euros.
Honda dropped out of Formula 1 after last season and the team was sold.
The Stage Up-Sport&Leisure study also found that telecommunications companies were the biggest Formula 1 sponsors in 2008, spending some 180 million euros, followed by finance companies, which spent over 100 million euros.
