Mercedes went into Singapore looking for answers, but Sprint Qualifying has instead added another problem to those that emerged at Sepang. George Russell secured second place with the older aerodynamic specification, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli could manage only seventh and finished more than half a second behind his team-mate, highlighting the sporting cost of running the two W17s in different configurations.
The comparison appears, at least for now, to favour the specification Mercedes used up to Baku. After doubts emerged over the effectiveness of its latest aerodynamic package, the team turned the Singapore Sprint weekend into a direct test: George Russell returned to the previous configuration, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli retained the upgrades used at Sepang.
The objective was to collect enough data to understand whether the difficulties were related to the characteristics of individual circuits or pointed towards a deeper problem with the newer package. It was a logical technical decision, but one carrying an obvious sporting risk. Running two different cars meant accepting that one driver could end up with less competitive material, and that appears to be exactly what has happened to Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Mercedes W17 comparison leaves Antonelli struggling
“I was already struggling in FP1,” Andrea Kimi Antonelli admitted after qualifying. “There is still a lot to understand about this package. The car is really difficult to drive, unpredictable, and it is difficult to put a lap together. It is a shame because I came here with high expectations, but so far everything has been very difficult.”
The problem does not appear to be limited simply to outright performance. The newer configuration has changed the behaviour of the W17, making it less predictable and complicating the driver’s task.
Mercedes communications director Bradley Lord explained precisely what had emerged from the comparison between the two cars.
“The balance of Kimi’s car is less consistent and less stable than George’s. It also seems more difficult through the slow corners. Because of the understeer you have to apply more throttle, while on entry to the fast corners the car is a little nervous. Naturally, that compromises the driver’s confidence. I would say the new package is simply more difficult to drive and, unfortunately, we saw that in today’s result.”
George Russell avoided drawing any definitive conclusions, despite acknowledging how effectively the older configuration had worked.
“We can definitely confirm that the previous one isn’t bad at all,” George Russell said. “As a team, we don’t yet have anything telling us that the upgrade doesn’t work. But the stopwatch guides our evaluations and, so far, the times with the new package haven’t been particularly good.”
Russell’s older Mercedes specification creates a Sunday dilemma
Mercedes now faces two separate problems. The first concerns Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who must continue the weekend with a configuration that, at least for the moment, is not allowing him to compete in the best possible conditions.
The second could prove even more significant for the team’s prospects in Sunday’s Grand Prix. George Russell is due to serve a penalty for a power-unit change and will start from the back of the grid.
Mercedes therefore finds itself in the unusual position of having the driver equipped with what currently appears to be the more effective aerodynamic configuration unable to use it from a competitive starting position. Meanwhile, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who could represent the team’s main opportunity in the full Grand Prix, is struggling with a car whose behaviour he is finding difficult to understand.
It is the paradox created by a technical decision that could carry a heavy sporting price. George Russell’s second place in Sprint Qualifying demonstrates that the Mercedes W17 can be highly competitive in Singapore, but his Sunday penalty makes converting that potential into a Grand Prix victory extremely difficult. Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s deficit, meanwhile, offers little reason for optimism at this stage.
Mercedes cannot return Antonelli’s car to the older W17 specification
There is another factor that makes the situation particularly delicate: Mercedes cannot reverse its decision during the weekend. Bradley Lord made that clear when asked whether Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s car could also be returned to the older specification.
“It isn’t possible to go back to the previous configuration during the weekend. We can’t even swap the chassis. It would take two days of work to completely return the car to the old specification. So we have to work with what we have and hope to find a more stable baseline for Kimi, both for tomorrow’s qualifying and for the race.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli is fully aware of the scale of the challenge.
“I think it will be a difficult weekend unless we can find something tomorrow. Honestly, I don’t see where we could recover seven tenths, but you never know. Maybe tonight, together with Bono, we can find something on the car. From my side, I’ll also try to adapt my driving as much as possible.”
Toto Wolff defends Mercedes’ split-car experiment
Mercedes does not, however, regard the experiment as a mistake. Toto Wolff had already explained before Sprint Qualifying that the decision to run different specifications was driven by the need to understand which direction the team should follow with its development, including with an eye towards 2027.
“Using two different cars is never ideal, but it is a compromise we have to accept. At the moment we have two test drivers. We have to do it to make sure we make the right decisions for next year as well.”
The Mercedes team principal had also acknowledged that the newer configuration appears more complicated to drive, without necessarily considering it inferior in terms of ultimate potential. That distinction is important as Mercedes continues to assess its W17 development direction and remaining potential.
The objective is to identify the strongest elements of both specifications and understand how they can be incorporated into the team’s future development path. Given the months of work invested in the new package, that approach has a clear technical logic. Singapore, however, is showing just how difficult it can be to reconcile development requirements with the immediate competitive demands of a race weekend.
The Sprint will provide another opportunity for Mercedes to gather data and assess whether Andrea Kimi Antonelli can improve the behaviour of his W17. But Sprint Qualifying has already revealed the price of the team’s decision: one driver satisfied and competitive but destined to start Sunday’s Grand Prix from the back, and the other frustrated by a car that is not giving him the confidence required to attack.
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