Kimi Antonelli has acknowledged after the Dutch GP that Mercedes no longer has the fastest F1 car. The young championship leader had to settle for second place behind Lando Norris in Zandvoort, who steered McLaren with a strongly upgraded MCL40 to a second consecutive victory. The contrast with Mercedes’ dominant start to the season is significant. However, the Silberpfeile also have a substantial upgrade in the pipeline.
Read more Foreign media react to Zandvoort season finale: ‘Memorable, but for the wrong reasons’
Mercedes won the first six Grands Prix in a row but have seen Ferrari and McLaren come increasingly closer in recent months. After two wins by Lando Norris in Budapest and Zandvoort, the reigning world champions seem to be definitively joining the fight. According to Antonelli, McLaren has made a significant leap with the upgrade package introduced in Hungary. This meant he could not challenge the leading Norris in the final laps of the Dutch GP.
“We clearly no longer have the fastest car on the grid,” Antonelli admitted after the race during the official FIA press conference. “We are probably second or third, at least in today’s race. McLaren has made a huge step forward, especially since Hungary, since the big upgrade package they introduced.” Still, the Italian has ‘confidence’ in a counter-reaction from Mercedes. According to Antonelli, the German team has already been working hard on the next package, with which they want to reduce the gap to McLaren.
Mercedes Upgrades
“The team has worked very hard on the next package that is coming, and they just want to make sure it works well when we put it on,” he explained. “It looks like it will definitely become more difficult and challenging, but we are ready and will try to make the most of every opportunity. Hopefully, it’s our turn now to take the lead with upgrades.”
Read more VrouwenVisie: ‘End of Dutch GP proves that our government has too little ambition’
Mercedes had already hinted at a ‘significant’ upgrade for the second half of the season, although it is not yet clear when and where exactly it will be introduced. Meanwhile, Antonelli still leads the championship convincingly. He enjoys a 59-point lead over teammate George Russell, who, thanks to his second place in Zandvoort, is now level with Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes still holds an 87-point margin over Ferrari in the constructors’ championship. The lead over McLaren is as much as 162 points.
Read everything about the Dutch GP in Zandvoort here
NOW ONLINE: 45 pages Race Special GP Netherlands: our online magazine with news, reactions, analysis, and interviews!
Read more Column Jeroen Bleekemolen: ‘Cherish that we got to experience F1 in the Netherlands like this’
