Norris disputes claims McLaren now has F1’s fastest car

Norris disagreed with comments from George Russell and Kimi Antonelli that McLaren now has the best car on the Formula 1 grid. He argued that his recent results were down to his driving rather than a clear shift in the competitive order.

McLaren has won the last two grands prix, in Budapest and Zandvoort, with Norris starting from pole in both events. Those victories followed a heavily upgraded MCL40, after the team had gone winless through the opening 10 rounds of the season.

Antonelli said Mercedes no longer has the fastest car in Formula 1 and maintained that view after McLaren’s second straight victory in the Dutch Grand Prix. He said Mercedes is no longer clearly the benchmark on the grid.