German car manufacturer Mercedes got its "highest-ever value for money" from its investment in its F1 team last year and is "on track for a bonus prize money payment," per its financial statements, according to Sylt & Reid of FORBES. Surprisingly, despite being one of F1's "biggest spenders," Mercedes' value for money is higher than that of many smaller rivals which are "thought to operate more prudently." Teams in the middle of the grid get value for money of between $660,000 and $740,000 per point whereas the parent company of Red Bull Racing, which won the F1 title for four years in a row before Mercedes, spent $645,000 per point on average from '10-13. According to Mercedes Motorsport Dir Toto Wolff, operating costs rose rose last year "due to significantly higher performance bonuses payable as a consequence of the record-breaking level of sporting performance and also increased costs arising from regulation change." Although costs increased last year, "so did revenue." It mainly comprises sponsorship and prize money and, Wolff said, turnover increased by $33.7M due to "higher sponsorship revenue and increased income from the Commercial Rights Holder flowing from improved on-track performance in 2013." Last year alone revenue grew 18% and, overall, revenue has risen by 28% since the low point of the team's cycle of investment in '11-12 (FORBES, 9/19).
