McLaren hit back at staggering Mercedes claim: 'I don't believe it'

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has played down the suggestion that Mercedes has no money left to develop its car this year.

At the Dutch Grand Prix last weekend, Lando Norris came out on top for the second consecutive victory, with Mercedes' advantage now seemingly under threat.

Having showcased impressive speed throughout the first half of the year to establish healthy leads in both championships, Toto Wolff commented that Mercedes no longer has the monetary resources to keep up the rapid development of its car.

But Stella does not believe this is the case, pointing to relaxations in the budget cap as an opportunity for Mercedes.

"I would like to believe you, but I actually don't believe it," Stella told media including RacingNews365.

"Thanks to the 2027 power unit regulations, all teams will have an allowance in their reporting for the cost cap. 

“If I'm not wrong, it's $3 million that you can use in the 2026 reporting for the cost cap calculations.”

Mercedes currently hold an 87-point advantage in the constructors' standings, while Kimi Antonelli is 59 points clear in the drivers' table.

With the second half of the season now in full swing and Mercedes' rivals applying more pressure, Stella does not believe Mercedes will sit still when it comes to adding new parts to its car.

"I'm sure that Mercedes, having seen that the rivals are elevating the game, I'm sure they will now cash in on their development that surely is happening on the ground.

"I'm sure their car in the wind tunnel is quite a bit faster than the car they have on track.

“They will want to now convert some of this potential into upgrades that make it to the real car.

"So I'm pretty sure that they will have upgrades. Obviously, it would be good if not, but I don't even want to think it."