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

Key Facts

• Fact 1: ‘Simply lovely’: Verstappen extends with F1 Red Bull Racing until 2030 Norris finally wins a race in 2026 with Hungarian Grand Prix triumph Formula One returns to Malaysia as Sepang circuit hosts Bahrain Grand Prix F1 needs better balance between business and sport, says Norris “We’re clearly not the fastest car any more on the grid,” said Antonelli, who won five races in a row earlier in the season.
• Fact 2: Zandvoort and Budapest’s Hungaroring before that played to McLaren’s strengths, but some of the tracks coming up may be less favourable [Patrick Post/AP Photo]A tougher ride Mercedes are still way ahead of Ferrari and McLaren in the constructors’ championship and scored more points – 46 to McLaren’s 43 and Ferrari’s 31 – than anyone else over the weekend.
• Fact 3: And therefore, I don’t have the confidence to say ‘yeah, I can easily fight for a championship for the rest of the season’.” “I know I’ve just won two races in a row and had two poles in a row, but at the minute I don’t have the car I need to fight for a championship,” added the Briton, who is 83 points behind Antonelli, with 11 rounds remaining unless the situation in the Middle East forces a calendar change.
• Fact 4: I’m just pretty sure that they will have upgrades.” Antonelli will take grid penalty at home race Antonelli, who turns 20 on Tuesday, faces another obstacle in his quest to become F1’s youngest-ever champion.