Antonelli says McLaren now fastest as Mercedes prepares upgrade

Mercedes championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli has acknowledged that McLaren has emerged as the fastest team in Formula 1 following a significant development upgrade, setting the stage for a renewed challenge as the season progresses. The 20-year-old Italian made the candid assessment after McLaren's Lando Norris dominated the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, a race where Mercedes could not match the reigning champions' performance over a full race distance. "For sure, we're clearly not the fastest car anymore on the grid," Antonelli said. He indicated that Mercedes was likely only the second or third quickest package at Zandvoort, marking a notable shift from the team's earlier position at the front of the field. Antonelli pinpointed the Hungarian Grand Prix as the turning point, where McLaren introduced a major upgrade package that has transformed its car's performance, particularly through high-speed sections. Despite this, Antonelli remains confident in Mercedes' ability to respond. He revealed that the team has been working intensely on its own significant development package, expected to arrive in the coming weeks. "I'm confident with the team.