Stella casts doubt on Wolff's cost cap excuse for Mercedes' slow upgrades

McLaren's Andrea Stella has dismissed Toto Wolff's claim that Mercedes lacks the budget to fast-track upgrades. 'I would like to believe you, but I actually don't believe you,' he said.

Ferrari and McLaren have both made big strides on their 2026 cars, each taking two wins and pressuring Mercedes. The reigning champions have only trickled out aero updates, with a bigger package slated for October's Bahrain GP in Malaysia.

Why it matters:

The spat shows how cost cap management is shaping the title fight. If Stella is right, Mercedes could soon unleash a major upgrade, shifting the championship balance.

Between the lines:

Stella pointed to a $3 million cost cap allowance for 2027 regulation changes, arguing Mercedes could use it now. 'I'm sure they will cash in on their development,' he said. He also suspects Mercedes' wind tunnel car is 'quite a bit faster' than its track car, so upgrades are likely coming sooner than Wolff suggests.

What's next:

Mercedes has three September races—in Italy, Spain, and Azerbaijan—before that Bahrain package. If Stella's instincts hold, Mercedes may be forced to accelerate its plans.