Kimi Antonelli secured second place at the Dutch Grand Prix, extending his advantage in the Drivers’ Championship after another strong result for Mercedes. Antonelli briefly led the race during the opening stint, but his pace became more difficult to maintain later in the race as the car struggled with rear grip and cornering stability. Lando Norris eventually moved back ahead, leaving Antonelli unable to mount another serious challenge for victory. In the closing stages, Mercedes asked George Russell to allow Antonelli through so that the Italian could attempt to close the gap to Norris. Russell complied with the team’s instructions, while Antonelli was unable to catch the McLaren and ultimately crossed the line in second.
“ It was a very intense race. The first stint was going really well, and I managed to get into the lead. However, during the second stint I didn’t have the same feeling with the car. It was sliding quite a lot through the corners, and once Lando passed me, I knew it would be very difficult to fight back. George showed that he is a real team player, and I’m very happy that he finished third. The team did an incredible job. We have made a significant step forward, and it was great to see that progress rewarded today. We cannot afford to take our foot off the gas. McLaren have made a huge step forward, so we need to keep working in the same direction and continue improving the car.”
