Antonelli says Mercedes no longer have fastest car in F1

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli, after Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix, said that Mercedes no longer have the fastest car in Formula One and McLaren have taken a big step forward since Hungary.

McLaren's reigning champion Lando Norris has now won two races in a row with victory at Zandvoort from pole position. Antonelli and Mercedes teammate George Russell were second and third ahead of Ferrari pair Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

"We’re clearly not the fastest car anymore on the grid," said Antonelli, who won five races in a row earlier in the season.

"We’re probably second or third, at least in today’s race, and McLaren has taken a huge step, especially since Hungary, since the big upgrade package they brought."

Norris, who was defeated by Antonelli at the race restart and then the Briton had to overtake him on track, questioned that assertion, however.

"I don’t think it’s true. I think if I didn’t get Kimi when I overtook him, I don’t think I would have won the race," he said.

"For once I would give myself a little bit of credit that I feel like I’m doing a better job than everyone, and I think that can also make a difference.

"We certainly have a car now capable of beating them ... but I think they have a better all-round performing car than what we do."

Zandvoort, and Budapest's Hungaroring before that, played to McLaren's strengths but some of the tracks coming up may be less supportive to them.

Ferrari are seen as favourites at their home grand prix at Monza early next month, with upgrades in the pipeline, while Antonelli faces hefty grid penalties for an engine change.