Kimi Antonelli clears the air on Mercedes’ front wing: “It was a struggle, not an advantage”. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli explains the technical issues with the W17’s front wing in China.

The Japanese Grand Prix began amid questions to the FIA about the legality of Mercedes’ front wing, which in China showed DRS closure times exceeding the 0.4-second limit set by the technical regulations. The team explained that the issue originated from a miscalculation of the actuator’s closing force, a description that the FIA accepted as valid. This means it was not a deliberately engineered solution, with Kimi Antonelli even admitting that it caused difficulties under braking.

Antonelli’s account

Images of the delayed DRS closure on the W17 in China led to various theories. Some suspected Mercedes had developed a system to shift aerodynamic balance to the rear under braking, improving stability and helping recharge the battery via the rear axle. However, Kimi Antonelli clarified that it was purely a technical problem, which also created significant braking challenges.

“Regarding the front wing, it’s not like we were trying to be geniuses,” Kimi Antonelli said. “It was a system malfunction, not intentional, and it didn’t bring any advantage—in fact, quite the opposite. Especially under braking, the wing took a long time to regain its angle and downforce, which made us very vulnerable. In China, I struggled a bit because I couldn’t attack the braking zones as I wanted, partly because of the wing. It wasn’t deliberate, but a malfunction that affected both George and me in qualifying. It’s something we’re working on to improve.”

FIA and team work together

Mercedes used the two weeks after Shanghai to address the problem, preventing the issue from recurring in Japan. It’s reasonable to expect the FIA to monitor this closely, since, even if unintentional, a front wing that is too slow to close does not comply with technical regulations. This episode also confirms that all eyes remain on the Silver Arrows, as is always the case when a car has the potential to dominate the championship.

Kimi Antonelli’s candid feedback suggests that the Mercedes “two-phase” wing was a liability rather than a secret weapon. Based on the content of the team’s technical debrief, the focus for the Japanese Grand Prix will be on restoring the W17’s braking stability to allow Antonelli and Russell to fully exploit the car’s dominant cornering speeds.