Andrea Kimi Antonelli, current leader of the Formula 1 championship, has stated that Mercedes is no longer the fastest team on the circuit, after finishing in second place behind Lando Norris at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Norris, a McLaren driver, achieved a convincing victory in Zandvoort, adding his second consecutive win and highlighting the evolution of his vehicle, which has undergone a significant improvement following a recent update.
The beginning of the 2026 season had been favorable for Mercedes, who won the first six races dominantly, but competition has intensified in the recent races. “Clearly, we are no longer the fastest car on the grid,” Antonelli declared, acknowledging that his team is now among the two or three fastest, especially in light of McLaren’s outstanding performance.
Despite the current challenges, Antonelli has expressed optimism about his team’s effort to develop a new update package. “We are working very hard on the next package and hope it works well once we have it ready,” he said.
Meanwhile, his teammate, George Russell, has acknowledged that they have had “a couple of challenging weekends.” Moreover, he has expressed hope to be more competitive at the next Grand Prix in Monza, despite the pressure that Ferrari exerts with its updates.
With Antonelli at the top of the standings with a 59-point lead over Russell, and Mercedes dominating with an 87-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors’ championship, the battle for the top positions will continue to intensify as the season approaches its end.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
