The FIA has confirmed that George Russell’s Mercedes W17 complied with Formula 1’s technical regulations following an extensive post-race inspection at the 2026 United States Grand Prix. The governing body’s technical delegates examined the internal combustion engine’s air intake and cooling system, including hardware, software and sensors, after selecting car number 63 at random from the top ten finishers in Austin.
The inspection went beyond the standard checks routinely conducted after a Grand Prix, including assessments of car weight and the floor. Every component and system examined on George Russell’s Mercedes was found to comply with the applicable regulations, meaning the additional scrutiny revealed no technical irregularities.
FIA selects George Russell’s Mercedes W17 for detailed inspection after Austin GP
As part of its established post-race procedures, the FIA regularly publishes official reports detailing the additional technical examinations carried out on randomly selected Formula 1 cars. Following the chequered flag at the Circuit of The Americas, George Russell’s Mercedes W17 was chosen for a more thorough inspection.
The selection was made randomly from the cars that finished inside the top ten, rather than being presented as the result of a suspected technical infringement. George Russell had finished eighth in Austin, enduring a difficult race in which he was unable to match the pace of his Mercedes teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The contrasting performances of the two Mercedes drivers were among the major talking points of the weekend, with George Russell struggling throughout the Austin Grand Prix as Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured victory.
What FIA inspectors checked on the Mercedes engine cooling system
The FIA’s technical delegates focused their detailed examination on the internal combustion engine’s air intake and cooling system. The inspection covered both physical components and electronic systems, including the sensors connected to the engine’s cooling arrangements.
These sensors transmit information to the car’s electronic control unit, allowing the FIA to monitor relevant operating parameters in real time. Consequently, the examination extended beyond the mechanical installation to include the software and associated electronic monitoring equipment.
The purpose of the inspection was to establish whether the relevant elements of George Russell’s Mercedes W17 complied with the requirements governing the car’s technical configuration and operation.
FIA confirms George Russell’s Mercedes complied with F1 regulations
Following the completion of the checks, the FIA confirmed that all inspected components were compliant with the applicable technical regulations. No irregularities were identified in the internal combustion engine’s cooling arrangements or the associated systems examined by the technical delegates.
The result means Mercedes passed the additional post-race examination conducted on George Russell’s car following the United States Grand Prix. The inspection formed part of the FIA’s routine compliance procedures and did not establish any breach of the regulations.
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