Former Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg believes Mercedes has reason to be concerned by McLaren's development and raw speed following the Dutch Grand Prix.
Key Highlights
- Nico Rosberg believes Mercedes will be concerned by McLaren's recent development rate and raw pace.
- Lando Norris produced remarkable speed on hard tyres at the Dutch Grand Prix, running seven to eight tenths per lap faster than George Russell in a similar situation.
- Norris secured his second win of the season and moved to fourth in the drivers' standings with 159 points.
- Despite renewed title speculation, Norris insists he is focused on taking the championship fight one race at a time.
Rosberg Warns Mercedes About McLaren's Rising Pace
Speaking on Sky Sports F1, the 2016 champion praised Lando Norris for his impressive pace at Zandvoort, particularly during the closing stages of the race. Norris chose not to pit for fresh tyres when several rivals stopped during the Virtual Safety Car period. Despite remaining on his existing tyres, the McLaren driver managed to maintain his lead over the rest of the field.
Norris Shows Blistering Pace on Hard Tyres
Rosberg was particularly impressed by Norris's speed on the hard tyres, comparing his performance with George Russell in a similar situation. "Lando's pace on those hard tyres, he was seven or eight tenths a lap quicker than George in a similar situation. Lando was absolutely flying out there. It was unbelievable the speed there," Rosberg said.
The pace difference highlighted just how strong McLaren's performance had become, with Norris able to maintain a significant advantage despite not making the same tyre change as some of his rivals.
McLaren's Development Rate Raises Mercedes Concerns
According to Rosberg, McLaren's recent performance surge could make the final part of the season particularly challenging for championship-leading Mercedes. "Mercedes is going to be worried now by this pace from McLaren," he said.
Rosberg also pointed to McLaren's development rate as a major factor, arguing that the team has been improving its car faster than any other competitor. "Because they're the team to beat now, and they've been developing that car faster than anybody else also. This could be a really tough end to the season for Mercedes."
Norris Back-to-Back Wins Fuel Title Talk
Norris's victory at Zandvoort marked his second win of the season after he also triumphed at the Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break. The 2025 champion now sits fourth in the drivers' standings with 159 points, 24 points behind Lewis Hamilton in third and 83 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
With back-to-back victories, Norris has inevitably found himself at the centre of discussions about a potential late-season championship comeback. However, the McLaren driver has played down the speculation and insists he is focused only on the next race.
"It sounds boring, but one race at a time," Norris said after the race. "I know a lot of people say it now but it's the truth of it. There's no point thinking that far ahead. I need to concentrate now on having a nice little break [before Monza]."
