Paris, France - Ferrari received $38 million (R450 million) more in Formula One payments than runaway title-winner Mercedes in 2014, despite finishing just fourth in the constructors' championship.
Autosport.com has disclosed usually secret details of the F1 payments which showed Ferrari pocketed $164 million (R1.95 billion) last season, making it the highest paid team.
All-conquering Mercedes, whose driver Lewis Hamilton swept to his second world title ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg, was only third on the list with $126 million (R1.5 billion).
Red Bull, which finished second in the Constructors' standings, was the second-highest earner on $156 million (R1.85 billion), with fifth-placed McLaren taking home the fourth largest payment, $98 million (R1.15 billion).
Williams came third in the championship but ranked only fifth on the money list with $83 million (R985 million), according to the report posted on Wednesday.
SHARED OUT
The payments come from a system that distributes 65 percent of revenues from hosting fees, media rights, trackside sponsorship and hospitality among the teams.
Half the money is shared out according to the teams’ final positions in the Constructors' championship, but the other 15 percent is split between Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren and Williams to reward their long-term participation.
The remaining 35 percent goes to F1 shareholders.
The system means that Force India received a whopping $38 million (R450 million) less than McLaren, despite finishing just one place behind them in the championship.
It may also help explain why Ferrari has had the resources to emerge as the closest challenger to Mercedes in 2015, after a disappointing 2014 season.
The now-defunct Caterham F1 team finished out of the money in 11th place and paid the price when its assets were liquidated at auction in March this year.
PAYOUTS TO FORMULA ONE TEAMS IN 2014
1 Ferrari - Fourth in Constructors’ standings - $164 million (R1.95 billion)
2 Red Bull - Second - $156 million (R1.85 billion)
3 Mercedes - First - $126 million (R1.5 billion)
4 McLaren - Fifth - $98 million (R1.15 billion)
5 Williams - Third - $83 million (R985 million)
6 Force India - Sixth - $60 million (R819 million)
7 Toro Rosso - Seventh - $54 million (R640 million)
8 Lotus - Eighth - $51 million (R605 million)
9 Marussia - Ninth - $48 million (R570 million)
10 Sauber - 10th - $44 million (R522 million)