Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has quashed the suggestion that the Formula 1 cost cap was a leading reason for its disappointing showing throughout the ground-effect era.
The German marque entered the new regulations cycle having dominated the initial phase of the V6 hybrid era, winning all but one Drivers’ Championship and every Constructors’ title.
But whilst remaining somewhat competitive, it was a comparatively disappointing time for the Brackley-based squad, winning no titles and earning just seven Grand Prix wins.
2022 saw a radical and experimental car, the W13, which featured a sidepod-less design, a move which backfired, as it lagged behind both Red Bull and Ferrari.
The previous year saw the introduction of the cost cap, which was introduced to prevent high spending by teams in order to create a closer field.
And having been the reigning Constructors’ champions, its allowance was less than that of its rivals, but Wolff is adamant that it did not contribute hugely to its underwhelming recent campaigns.
“We were pretty conscious when the budget cap came, not only for the commercial side of things, but also to have a more level playing field among the teams, and not just the usual suspects that we are outspending each other,” the Austrian told media including Motorsport Week.
“So would we have been able to buy ourselves out?” he continued.
Wolff then examined the comparisons and contrasts between the team and it’s ‘big four’ rivals.
“Look at Red Bull or Ferrari, they have the same financial opportunities or possibilities that we have, so it would have, again, ended up in an arms race, and maybe it wouldn’t have been McLaren fighting there with us on top [in 2025],” he said.
“So it would have come out to the same thing. This is just a meritocracy; the best man and the best machine win — and it wasn’t us.”
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