Let's Go Racing: F1 Team Valuations

When in doubt, stick with a 2D bar chart. They’re one of the easiest chart types to interpret. But with a few simple formatting tweaks, you can turn a standard chart into something visually engaging and memorable.

This Week's Chart Drop

According to Forbes, Ferrari is currently the most valuable Formula 1 brand, valued at $6.5 billion, closely followed by Mercedes at $6 billion. All F1 teams are now valued at over $1.5 billion, compared to just four brands exceeding that mark two years ago. The surge in popularity has been fueled by Netflix’s Drive to Survive series and Brad Pitt’s recent Formula 1 movie, bringing the sport to a wider audience.

This Week's Design Trick

A quick way to make your bar chart pop is by customizing data labels. Instead of sticking with the default rectangle, select your labels, go to Format → Change Shape, and choose a shape that draws attention. Combine this with a modern, cohesive color palette, and even a simple 2D bar chart can look polished and eye-catching, without overwhelming your audience.

Each week, I share one simple Excel visual—from sport, business, or personal finance—to give finance professionals ideas on how to present their data.

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