Cost cap prevented “arms race” and helped ‘best team’ McLaren win F1 title

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says Formula 1’s cost cap made the world championship a “meritocracy” rather than an “arms race”, after McLaren won its first drivers’ title since 2008.

Lando Norris prevailed over Max Verstappen and McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri to end a 15-season streak of Red Bull and Mercedes triumphs in the world championship.

Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari used to be the wealthiest F1 outfits by a significant margin, but the cost cap introduced in 2021 made the championship a more level-playing field.

Mercedes struggled throughout the ground-effect era that began in 2022 and recently ended in Abu Dhabi, winning just seven of 92 grands prix over that period.

Asked whether the Silver Arrows could have recovered more ground without the cost cap, Wolff r