The world’s most valuable teams: Only two F1 teams are in the top 50 – The American business magazine Forbes has once again published its annual ranking of the world’s most valuable sports teams, offering a clear indication of the current financial landscape of global sport.

Although Formula 1 has grown rapidly in popularity, revenue and global reach in recent years, the latest list reveals a striking imbalance: only two Formula 1 teams have made it into the top 50.

 

 

 

Global sports valuations continue to soar

According to Forbes, the rising tide has lifted almost all boats so as to speak. Across major sports leagues, team valuations have climbed sharply over the past six years, driven by booming media rights deals, sponsorship growth and expanding global audiences. In 2019, the world’s most valuable sports team was valued at around five billion US dollars. Fast forward to today, and that figure looks almost modest.

Topping the ranking once again are the Dallas Cowboys. The NFL franchise remains the world’s most valuable team, but its estimated worth has more than doubled since the previous benchmark. Forbes now values the Cowboys at an astonishing 13 billion US dollars, highlighting the extraordinary commercial power of American football.

The Cowboys are far from alone in the upper reaches of the list. The NFL dominates the top 50 like no other league, with 30 of its 32 teams making the cut. This overwhelming presence reflects the league’s revenue-sharing model, lucrative domestic broadcasting contracts, and unmatched popularity in the United States.

The NBA also features prominently, placing 12 teams in the top 50. Basketball’s strong global appeal and growing international fan base continue to translate into rising franchise values, although it cannot quite match the NFL’s sheer financial muscle.

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The NFL is in a financial league of its own

No other league comes close to matching the NFL’s financial footprint. At the forefront of this financial juggernaut are the Dallas Cowboys. The only club approaching that territory is Real Madrid. The Spanish giants were the last team to outrank the Cowboys in Forbes’ valuation table, achieving this feat a decade ago when both clubs were valued at just over $3 billion. Since then, however, the gap has exploded. Today, Real Madrid are valued at an extraordinary $6.75 billion — yet this is still barely half of Dallas’s estimated worth.

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Formula 1 is represented by just two teams

Against this backdrop, Formula 1’s limited representation stands out. Despite its global calendar, growing fanbase and increasing presence in major markets such as the United States, only two Formula 1 teams appear in the top 50.

The highest-ranked Formula 1 entry is Ferrari, the oldest and most iconic team in Grand Prix racing. The Maranello-based team is in 26th place, with Forbes estimating its value at 6.5 billion US dollars. Ferrari shares this position with the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers, highlighting its enduring brand strength and unique status within motorsport.

The second and final Formula 1 team on the list is Mercedes. Valued at around six billion US dollars, Mercedes occupies 34th place in the ranking. It shares this position with the Chicago Bulls of the NBA and the Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL, firmly establishing it among some of the most recognisable names in global sport.

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F1’s financial challenge still a ‘work in progress’

Although Ferrari and Mercedes show that Formula 1 teams can compete financially at the highest level, the absence of other F1 outfits from the top 50 highlights the sport’s ongoing commercial challenges. Compared to closed American leagues with guaranteed revenues and franchise security, Formula 1’s team valuations remain heavily concentrated at the top, for now.

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NEXT ARTICLE – F1 row erupting over 2026 regulation loophole

There was Williams active suspension in the 1990’s, Renault’s electronic gismos in the mid naughties, the double diffuser of the Brawn car and off throttle blowing by Red Bull and Renault. All loopholes in the regulation which a single team managed to exploit to win championships.

Now with the biggest set of technical regulations coming in the history of F1, another loophole is likely to cause a paddock row and a potential protest from certain teams come the season opener in Australia.

The grey area some manufacturers of the powertrains are seeking to exploit is over the new compression ratios for the internal combustion engine specified by the FIA.

 

Maximum compression rate for ICE reduced for 2026

Whilst no formal complaint has yet been made, the finger of suspicion has fallen upon Mercedes – who supply McLaren, Williams and Alpine together with Red Bull powertrains who supply the Racing Bulls and Red bull Racing.

The beef surrounds Article C5.4.3 of the new technical regulations which mandates a reduction in compression rates from 18.0:1 to 16.0;1. The reason behind this was to temper peak performance and deliver more efficient combustion in lines with the sport’s ever increasing green values, but it appears to have created a new complex battle between the manufacturers.

The loophole has been created by the FIA’s decision on how to measure the new ratio. Under the current rules this will…READ MORE ON THIS STORY