Mercedes will conduct an immediate back-to-back comparison of its W17 specifications at the Singapore Grand Prix, with Kimi Antonelli set to use the latest upgrade package while George Russell returns to the previous configuration. The test comes after the major package introduced at Sepang failed to deliver the three-tenths performance gain suggested by Mercedes’ simulations.
The Brackley team has only one free-practice session during the Singapore Sprint weekend, but it wants answers as quickly as possible after its disappointing performance in Malaysia. George Russell will also introduce his fifth power unit of the season following his Sepang failure, although the new engine will not feature the ADUO update, and the resulting penalty means he will start Sunday’s Grand Prix from the back of the grid.
Mercedes investigates why Sepang upgrade missed its target
“The weekend in Malaysia was obviously very difficult for us. Since then, we have worked intensively to identify the reasons why our performance did not live up to expectations. We have identified several areas that require further investigation. However, there are no simple answers in F1 and we need more information before we can draw definitive conclusions,” Toto Wolff said.
The Mercedes team principal adopted a more measured tone after his frustration at Sepang, where the W17 failed to meet expectations following the introduction of a significant upgrade package.
Simulations had suggested the developments could produce an improvement of approximately three tenths of a second, but that gain did not materialise on track. The result has increased the urgency around a Mercedes development programme that Toto Wolff had already acknowledged still contained unanswered questions.
Antonelli gets latest W17 package as Russell returns to old spec
A look inside the Marina Bay garages makes Mercedes’ testing programme clear. Kimi Antonelli will run the developments used during the previous weekend in the only free-practice session, while George Russell will return to the earlier W17 configuration.
The objective is to create a direct on-track comparison and establish whether the latest package really moved Mercedes in the wrong direction or whether other factors were responsible for its disappointing Sepang performance.
“Singapore gives us an immediate opportunity to continue this work,” Toto Wolff continued. “The characteristics of the circuit are very different, which will help us build a clearer picture of where we stand. For this reason, over the course of the weekend we will evaluate both the latest upgrade package and the specification used previously, to make sure we understand exactly which direction we need to take.”
With only a single practice session available before the competitive Sprint sessions begin, Mercedes has little time to reach its conclusions. The Singapore Sprint weekend schedule makes the direct comparison particularly important.
George Russell takes fifth power unit without ADUO upgrade
George Russell will also have to introduce his fifth engine after the failure he suffered in Malaysia. That retirement cost the British driver third place and potentially dealt another major blow to his hopes of remaining in the world championship fight.
The replacement power unit will not feature the ADUO development. The change nevertheless triggers a penalty that will force George Russell to start from the back of the grid on Sunday.
“George will have to start from the back of the grid on Sunday. It’s a particularly frustrating situation considering his performance last weekend and the result he deserved to be fighting for. Unfortunately, incidents like these are part of the sport. Our objective now is to give him the best possible car and the opportunity to fight his way back towards the leading positions.”
“We need to make the most of this final Sprint-format weekend of the year, continue learning and achieve the best possible result with both cars. Singapore will represent an important test of our understanding and our resilience as a team.”
Mercedes wants immediate proof its development path is correct
Toto Wolff is approaching the situation with unusual urgency for a team currently leading both world championships. The drop in performance at Sepang acted as a warning, and Mercedes wants to eliminate as quickly as possible any concern that its latest development direction may have been incorrect.
There appears to be no hesitation within Mercedes about reverting to an earlier specification if the data supports that decision. Rather than looking for explanations to disguise a potential development mistake, the team is using Singapore to investigate the problem directly and determine which W17 configuration offers the stronger path forward.
With Antonelli and Russell effectively providing a real-time comparison around Marina Bay, Mercedes is seeking immediate answers to the questions raised by its most difficult weekend of the recent run.
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