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F1: McLaren, Ferrari to fight for $5m prize

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

About $5 million is reportedly up for grabs as F1 grandees Ferrari and McLaren contest third place in the constructors' world championship at the Abu Dhabi finale next weekend.

McLaren sits just one point ahead of Ferrari for the dubious honour of second runner-up behind Brawn and Red Bull.

But Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that the team with its nose in front after the 2009 finale stands to win more than just the race numbers 5 and 6 for 2010.

The outcome of the constructors' standings is how the teams' share of the sport's commercial income is divvied up.

"We will have to do all we can to bring home a third place finish in the championship, which we are very keen to do and I am sure that all of us, drivers and team, will do all in our power to try and reach this target," said Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali.

Making the Italian squad's task difficult, however, is the fact that the Ferrari F60 is clearly not as good a car as the McLaren, and Giancarlo Fisichella is struggling for pace since replacing Felipe Massa's initial substitute Luca Badoer in September.

"Looking at my experience with Ferrari so far, I don't want to hide that I feel a bit upset," the Roman said in Brazil.

"I will do my very best (in Abu Dhabi) to help the team retake this third place which slipped away from us," Giancarlo Fisichella added.

Auto Motor und Sport claims that several million dollars will also separate the prizes enjoyed by teams further back, with Williams, BMW and Renault to fight for sixth place in Abu Dhabi.


Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
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