Kimi Antonelli has acknowledged that Mercedes is currently falling behind McLaren and Ferrari in the ongoing development race during the 2026 Formula 1® season. This assessment came in the context of the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session, where Mercedes faced challenges that highlighted their relative lack of recent upgrades compared to their rivals.
At the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying on July 25, 2026, Antonelli initially secured fourth place on the grid. However, a three-place grid penalty for a yellow flag infringement dropped him to seventh. The yellow flag was caused by Max Verstappen’s spin, which Antonelli believes prevented him from achieving a higher position, possibly third place. Despite this setback, Antonelli remains optimistic about his race pace.
The qualifying session underlined some of Mercedes’ difficulties, particularly with tyre performance and car setup. Antonelli pointed out issues with front tyre grip at the start of laps and rear grip towards the end, which affected his ability to extract maximum performance. Unlike McLaren, which introduced a new floor, and Ferrari, which brought a new rear wing upgrade, Mercedes has not introduced recent downforce improvements. This lack of fresh aerodynamic upgrades has contributed to their relative loss of pace in the development battle.
Another factor affecting Antonelli’s qualifying performance was missing the first practice session at Hungary, where reserve driver Fred Vesti took the wheel. The absence of track time in FP1 was a disadvantage given the challenging conditions of the Hungaroring circuit. Despite these difficulties, Antonelli leads the championship by 45 points heading into the race weekend and believes that Mercedes still has strong race pace potential.
The development race among the top teams remains intense, with McLaren and Ferrari making noticeable progress through their recent upgrades. Mercedes’ current position reflects the ongoing challenge of balancing car performance and development within the constraints of the 2026 regulations. Antonelli’s comments provide a clear insight into the competitive dynamics shaping this phase of the season.
Antonelli’s reflections highlight the fine margins in qualifying and the impact that even small incidents, such as a yellow flag, can have on grid positions. His assessment also points to the importance of continuous development and the challenges faced by teams that have not yet introduced significant upgrades. While Mercedes is currently trailing in this aspect, the situation remains fluid as the season progresses.
The situation at the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session illustrates how development pace and track conditions can influence results. Antonelli’s comments offer a candid view of Mercedes’ current standing relative to McLaren and Ferrari, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the development battle rather than any definitive shift in championship prospects.
