Bonuses all round for Mercedes F1 team

LONDON, England - Each rank-and-file member of the Mercedes Formula 1 team will get the equivalent of nearly R200 000 for helping Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg bring home the 2014 Formula 1 Constructors' title.

A team spokesman confirmed the payments, part of a bonus scheme set up at the start of the season.

Red Bull, whose reign as F1 champion ended at Sunday's Russian F1 GP, paid similar bonuses to its factory staff for the past four years.

NINTH WIN, NINTH 1-2

The drivers and technical head Paddy Lowe were addressing the assembled staff at the factory in the England on Tuesday (Oct 14), the day after Mercedes motorsport head and non-executive chairman Niki Lauda thanked them.

Hamilton took his ninth win of the season in Russia on Sunday, leading Rosberg to the team's ninth 1-2 finish in 16 races.

Hamilton now leads Rosberg by 17 points in the championship with three races remaining and double points available from the finale in Abu Dhabi November 23.