Dough

[darwin dali]

Mercedes-powered McLaren has beaten Toyota to the mantle as F1's biggest spender.

Business F1 magazine contends that the Woking-based outfit, spending a reputed $400 million (US) a year, pips the Japanese carmaker - at $393 million - to the dubious post.

Third and fourth are Honda ($382m) and BMW Sauber ($378m), leaving Ferrari just fifth in the ranking with an estimated annual spend of $329m.

Reigning drivers' and constructors champion (and 2006 title leader) Renault ranked a distant sixth by spending around $300m, followed perhaps surprisingly by Red Bull ($201m).



Williams ($134m) leads the remaining privateers, but Super Aguri ($95m) outpace both MF1 ($76m) and - bringing up the rear - Red Bull's junior team Scuderia Toro Rosso, at $66m.

Total: more than 2.5 billion dollars. More than the GDP of many countries!