Millions of dollars at stake as F1 season heads for climax

The higher you finish as a team in the Formula 1 Constructors' Championship, the more prize money you receive.

The difference between sixth and 10th in the standings could be the difference in tens of millions of dollars received in the annual prize pot, and with it more money to spend on car development for the following season. It is a virtuous circle, with teams now having just five rounds left to improve their positions.

While it is the Constructors' Championship that pays the bills for the teams, the drivers too will be angling for the highest position in their championship with bonuses on the line and prestige of finishing say second rather than third or fourth.

Below is an overview of the various battles yet to be settled up and down the grid.

Mercedes vs Ferrari for P2 in the Constructors'

Mercedes and Ferrari are locked into a tight battle for second in the Constructors' Championship, with the Silver Arrows commanding a 28-point lead.

This has fluctuated throughout the season between the two teams, with Ferrari the only one of the two to have claimed a Grand Prix win this season through Carlos Sainz in Singapore, with the two teams battling close with the W14 and SF-23 machines.

With Sainz's DNS in Qatar, Mercedes had a prime opportunity to get more points on the board, which lasted about nine seconds until Lewis Hamilton hit George Russell at Turn 1, putting himself out.

Russell would finish fourth at Lusail and Charles Leclerc fifth in the sole Ferrari, meaning Mercedes eked out just a two-point advantage.

Aston Martin vs McLaren for P4 in the Constructors'

The battle for fourth is effectively for the honours of 'most improved' team in 2023, as Aston Martin attempts to fend off the rejuvenated McLaren.

Aston Martin surprised with its early season form as Fernando Alonso took six podiums in the first eight races - but as Aston peaked, McLaren began its surge.

Alonso's team has been unable to hold its momentum with McLaren eating into its points deficit to the Silverstone squad, with the MCL60 proving a fast weapon for Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris after upgrades were first introduced in Austria.

Lance Stroll has failed to score a point since the summer break in the second Aston Martin with the Canadian visibly showing his frustration at the situation after a poor qualifying in Qatar - which the FIA decided to investigate after he shoved his trainer Henry Hurt in the garage.

McLaren is 79 points behind Ferrari which is most likely out of reach, with the 11-point deficit to Aston the goal in the remainder of the season with whoever misses out set to disappointed.

Williams, Alfa Romeo, Haas, AlphaTauri for seventh in Constructors'

Surprisingly, Williams leads this quartet of teams vying for seventh in the points table with 23 to its record, and down here, the effects of finishing seventh as opposed to eighth in the standings is keenly felt.

Alfa Romeo has some momentum after Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou scored six points in Qatar, and moving to 16 points for the season, while Haas is set to introduce its long-awaited sizeable upgrade in the United States that is effectively a head start on the 2024 car.

It has 12 points while AlphaTauri and a fully fit Daniel Ricciardo are the rank outsiders on just five points.

Sergio Perez vs Lewis Hamilton vs Fernando Alonso for P2 in the Drivers'

In the Drivers' Championship, there is still plenty to fight for, with Sergio Pérez under pressure from Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

Perez must improve on his mediocre form if he wants to secure Red Bull's first one-two in a championship, a feat that should be a foregone conclusion given its dominance this season.

Just 30 points separated him and Hamilton, who is consistently chipping away at the Mexican's lead.

Alonso's seven podiums also put him right in the battle, with the gap standing at 41 points heading into Austin.

If Aston Martin can produce another few podiums, it's likely to be a close finish between this trio in the battle for the places at the star-studded end-of-season FIA Gala in Baku.

Carlos Sainz vs Charles Leclerc vs Lando Norris vs George Russell for P5 in the Drivers'

Thanks in part to his victory in Singapore, Carlos Sainz is the lead driver of the pack looking to finish inside the top five drivers.

In recent races team-mate Charles Leclerc and McLaren's Lando Norris have been creeping closer.

Norris has even been on the podium three times in a row, increasing his points tally considerably. The McLaren driver is now 17 points behind Sainz, while Leclerc is eight points behind the Spaniard.

George Russell is also in the running for fifth place, but has just one podium to his name this season in Spain, having thrown away another on the final lap in Singapore.

One thing is certain: four drivers within 21 points is a guarantee of spectacle.

View the latest World Championship standings for the Drivers and Constructors below!