Method 1 championship chief Kimi Antonelli reckons Mercedes “clearly” not boasts the quickest automotive after ending runner-up to Lando Norris on the Dutch Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver made it consecutive wins from pole at Zandvoort aboard a closely upgraded MCL40, making it simply two victories in six for Mercedes on account of Ferrari additionally claiming a pair.
It marks a far cry from the dominant begin the Silver Arrows loved to 2026 by successful the opening six grands prix from pole, earlier than the event race took form.
“We’re clearly not the quickest automotive anymore on the grid,” claimed Antonelli. “We’re in all probability second or third, at the least in at present’s race, and McLaren has taken an enormous step, particularly since Hungary, for the reason that large improve bundle they introduced.
“However I’m assured with the group. The group has been working tremendous onerous on this subsequent bundle that’s arising they usually simply wish to be sure that it’s going to work out properly as soon as we put it on.
“So for positive, on this race, it’s going to be tougher, it’s going to be difficult, however we’re able to do our greatest and to maximise each alternative.
“After which hopefully it’s going to be our flip to carry the bundle that’s going to present us a bit of little bit of the higher hand once more.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, George Russell, Mercedes, Lando Norris, McLaren
Photograph by: Michael Potts / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
Mercedes had already teased a ‘sizeable’ improve on this second half of the marketing campaign with it but to be confirmed the place that may happen, as each the drivers’ and constructors’ title battles close to their climax.
Antonelli leads team-mate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by 59 factors, whereas Mercedes holds an 87-point benefit over the Italian outfit in second.
That’s regardless of “a difficult couple of weekends” in response to Russell, who completed seventh in Budapest and third at Zandvoort forward of Monza in two weeks’ time.
“I feel we can be barely extra aggressive there,” added the Briton, whose team-mate will carry a grid penalty for an engine swap.
“Nonetheless, I consider Ferrari have an engine improve incoming and the reality is we simply do not know. However I do consider that these excessive degradation circuits actually swimsuit McLaren very properly and particularly Lando.
“He is all the time been a little bit of specialist in these circumstances. We additionally noticed it final 12 months. Monza could also be barely totally different, however I feel they need to be the group to beat proper now.”
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