Wolff: 'We don't have the money' — Mercedes development rate in crosshairs of a its war

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has admitted the Silver Arrows fail to match the upgrade tempo of McLaren and Ferrari in 2026 having launched its car with a disadvantage in cash allocations under the new $215m budget cap.

Mercedes have won only two of the last six races after having won the first six of the year; McLaren are each carrying a bigger chunks of new parts through the season. Wolff: "We don't have the money to develop. It is the development battle."

McLaren's official team principal Andrea Stella, though, says they don’t believe the Brackley team is hurting. "The car in the wind tunnel is probably a lot faster than the one they bring to the track, they will want to cash them in later," he said.

Russell says Mercedes may need three more races to bring upgrades — "I hope rival doesn't", while Antonelli still expects they are the right ones to recapture the top. Monza weather makes a return to Italy — and the title race edge — called next round.

Guilardi "fingers crossed our competitors don't," said Russell. "The line-up stretch will likely persist for coming two or three races."