Toto Wolff claims that Mercedes no longer has the means to massively develop its W17. Andrea Stella does not believe it for a second and expects a response to McLaren’s comeback.
Read more China could open the 2027 F1 season
Is the dominance displayed by Mercedes during the first half of the 2026 season starting to waver? After two consecutive wins by Lando Norris, including the last one at Zandvoort, McLaren seems to have significantly closed the gap with the German team.
This progress comes as Toto Wolff recently gave a surprising speech regarding Mercedes’ development possibilities. The team principal explained that the budget cap constraints now strongly limit his ability to bring new upgrades to the W17.
A statement that Andrea Stella receives with a lot of skepticism.
“I would like to believe you, but in reality, I don’t,” said the McLaren director.
Stella does not believe in Mercedes’ financial difficulties
Mercedes had nevertheless built a comfortable lead thanks to its excellent start to the championship. Despite the rise of its rivals, the German team still holds an 87-point lead in the constructors’ championship.
Kimi Antonelli also remains solidly at the top of the drivers’ standings with a 59-point lead.
But the recent momentum is much less favorable. McLaren has notably just achieved two wins with Norris and seems to have reached a new level with its MCL40.
For Stella, it would therefore be surprising if Mercedes simply accepted to see its advantage shrink without reacting.
The McLaren boss also reminds that teams have additional leeway within the budget cap framework due to the arrival of the new engine regulations planned for 2027.
“Thanks to the 2027 power unit regulations, all teams will have an allocation in their declaration linked to the budget cap. If I’m not mistaken, it’s three million dollars that can be used in the calculations for 2026.”
A margin that could allow Mercedes to continue developing its car despite Wolff’s statements.
“Their wind tunnel car is certainly faster”
Andrea Stella goes even further. According to him, Mercedes probably already has developments in progress that simply have not yet been introduced on track.
“I am sure that Mercedes, after seeing its rivals raise their game, will now exploit the development that is surely underway.”
The Briton believes that the virtual or experimental version of the W17 currently studied at the factory already has more performance than the one entered in Grand Prix.
Read more Lewis Hamilton had warned Ferrari: his request ignored from the very next race
“I am sure their wind tunnel car is significantly faster than the one they currently have on track.”
The challenge for Mercedes would now be to turn these theoretical gains into new parts usable in races.
“They will want to convert part of this potential into upgrades that will arrive on the real car.”
McLaren expects a response
Stella therefore refuses to build the second half of the season around the hypothesis that Mercedes has stopped developing its car.
“I am almost certain they will have upgrades. Obviously, it would be nice if they didn’t, but I don’t even want to consider it.”
A caution understandable given the situation in the championship. Mercedes still has a significant margin, but McLaren has just sent a strong signal during the last two Grands Prix.
Norris won both races and believes the MCL40 is now particularly formidable in fast corners. The Briton nevertheless acknowledges that his car remains clearly less competitive than Mercedes in slow sections.
This weakness explains why the reigning world champion still refuses to consider his car as complete enough to confidently aim for the title.
Mercedes under pressure after Zandvoort
The Dutch Grand Prix nevertheless confirmed that the balance of power can evolve quickly.
Norris won with more than eleven seconds ahead of Antonelli, while George Russell completed the podium. A performance that contrasts with several races in the first half of the season during which Mercedes seemed to have a comfortable margin over its rivals.
For McLaren, the question is therefore no longer just whether it can catch Mercedes in performance. It is now necessary to anticipate the reaction of the German team.
And despite Toto Wolff’s alarming statements about available finances, Andrea Stella seems convinced of one thing: Mercedes has not yet played all its cards.
Read more Shoot-out for Leo Fornaroli and Rafael Camara in Portimão, Esteban Ocon under pressure?