Kimi Antonelli admits Mercedes no longer has the fastest F1 car

Mercedes F1 driver Kimi Antonelli has admitted that the team no longer possesses the fastest car on the Formula 1 grid following the Grand Prix in Zandvoort. After finishing second behind Lando Norris, the Italian driver noted that Mercedes is likely currently second or third in terms of raw pace.

Antonelli attributed this shift to significant advancements made by competitors, specifically highlighting McLaren’s progress following their major upgrade package in Hungary. While Mercedes won the first six races of the 2026 season, they have secured only two victories in their last six outings, facing increased pressure from both McLaren and Scuderia Ferrari.

Despite the loss of technical dominance, Antonelli expressed confidence in the team's engineering efforts. He stated that the team is working hard on an upcoming upgrade package intended to restore their competitive advantage.