Mercedes no longer have the fastest car in F1, says leader Antonelli

McLaren's Lando Norris secured his second consecutive win from pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli stated that Mercedes no longer possesses the fastest car in Formula One, suggesting McLaren has made significant progress, particularly since their upgrade package. Antonelli believes Mercedes is now the second or third fastest car. However, Norris countered this, attributing his win partly to his own performance and suggesting Mercedes still has a better all-around car. While McLaren and Ferrari showed strength at Zandvoort and Budapest, upcoming tracks may favor other teams. Despite this, Mercedes leads the constructors' championship and scored more points than McLaren and Ferrari over the weekend.

Rain fell ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, potentially leading to the first wet race under new 2026 regulations. Lando Norris secured pole position for McLaren, aiming for a win despite expressing concerns about his car's performance in low-speed corners. George Russell won Saturday's sprint race, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli extended his lead over closest challengers. Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth for the Grand Prix after a difficult sprint race. Norris acknowledged that qualifying pace, with new tires and low fuel, masked some of his car's underlying issues.

George Russell secured a sprint race victory at the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort on Saturday. Starting from pole position, Russell built an early lead and maintained it throughout the race, marking his first win since June. Charles Leclerc finished second after overtaking Lando Norris with six laps remaining. Norris secured third place, fending off a late challenge from Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli, despite starting fifth due to qualifying damage, extended his championship lead as his closest rival, Lewis Hamilton, finished seventh. The sprint race remained dry, though rain fell shortly after its conclusion.