Formula One has always been about the competition between private teams and leading motor manufacturers. On the manufacturer side, Ferrari has been ever-present since the 1950s, with varying degrees of success, while Mercedes-Benz, Renault and Honda have both enjoyed successful periods as constructors.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the winning combination was the partnership of a private chassis builder, such as McLaren or Williams, with an engine supplied by a big manufacturer.