MOTOR RACING: Mercedes Dili na Pinakapaspas nga Sakyanan sa F1 — Antonelli

Miingon si Formula One championship leader Kimi Antonelli human sa Dutch Grand Prix niadtong Domingo nga dako ang giuswag sa McLaren ug dili na Mercedes ang adunay pinakapaspas nga sakyanan sa Formula One.

Gisaulog ni reigning McLaren champion Lando Norris ang iyang ikaduhang sunod nga kadaugan gikan sa pole position sa Zandvoort, samtang ikaduha si Antonelli ug ikatulo ang iyang Mercedes teammate nga si George Russell, nga gisundan sa Ferrari pair nga sila Lewis Hamilton ug Charles Leclerc.

“We’re clearly not the fastest car anymore on the grid,” matod ni Antonelli, nga nakadaog og lima ka sunod-sunod nga lumba sayo ning 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.”

Apan gikuwestiyon ni Norris, nga nalabwan ni Antonelli sa pagsugod pag-usab sa lumba ug kinahanglang molapas kaniya sa track, ang maong pahayag.

“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,” matod niya.

“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.”

Ang Zandvoort, sama sa Hungaroring sa Budapest sa miaging lumba, pabor sa kusog sa McLaren, apan mahimong dili ingon ka pabor kanila ang pipila sa umaabot nga mga track.

Gilauman nga kusog ang Ferrari sa ilang home grand prix sa Monza sayo sa sunod bulan, diin adunay umaabot nga mga upgrade, samtang mag-atubang si Antonelli og dagkong grid penalty tungod sa pag-ilis og makina.

Mas Lisod nga Pagpaningkamot

Layo gihapon ang labaw sa Mercedes batok sa Ferrari ug McLaren sa constructors’ championship ug nakakuha kini og mas daghang puntos sa weekend—46 kumpara sa 43 sa McLaren ug 31 sa Ferrari.

“We have a strong car in certain areas. It’s not like last year where we were pretty good everywhere,” matod ni Norris.

“We’re very, very strong in high speed, and that’s the place we’ve improved the car the most, is high-speed performance. No one matches us in high speed, and that’s a good thing.

“But the advantage that they (Mercedes) have to us in slow speed is also crazy. 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,” dugang sa Briton, nga 83 puntos ang biya kang Antonelli ug 11 pa ka rounds ang nahibilin gawas kung mausab ang iskedyul tungod sa kahimtang sa Middle East.

Miingon si Mercedes boss Toto Wolff nga tungod sa cost-cap restrictions, walay igong pondo ang Mercedes aron mapadali ang pagbutang sa mga kalamboan nga gusto nilang idugang sa sakyanan.

“We are trying to evenly split that through the season based on our calculations of when we can bring the biggest updates and optimising the championship points,” matod niya sa mga reporter.

“So the ride has been a bit tougher than at the beginning of the year.”

Miingon si McLaren principal Andrea Stella nga gilauman niyang paspason gihapon sa Mercedes ang pagpalambo sa ilang sakyanan.

“I’m sure their car in the wind tunnel is quite a bit faster than the car they have on track,” matod sa Italian.

“And they will want to now convert some of this potential into upgrades that make it to the real car. I’m just pretty sure that they will have upgrades.” -Ato ni Bai