Mercedes suffers late-race pace drop at 2026 Dutch Grand Prix

During the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix on August 22, Mercedes faced a sudden drop in performance after initially appearing to be race favorites, ultimately handing victory to McLaren's Lando Norris. Team Principal Toto Wolff reported that the team is investigating the telemetry to understand the pace loss. The situation prompted a late-race position swap between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli to fend off challenges from Ferrari, as they struggled with tire performance and vehicle handling. Wolff emphasized the call was a strategic move to prioritize points rather than a genuine attempt to catch Norris.

• 4:21 PMYahoo Sports — Toto Wolff Breaks Down Mercedes’ Late-Race Team Swap and Mystery Pace Drop