Mercedes to run split-spec W17 cars at Singapore Grand Prix
Mercedes will field one car with the Sepang-spec package and revert its other car to the pre-Sepang configuration for the Singapore race, citing a power-unit penalty and mixed results in Malaysia.
Mercedes announced that its W17 Formula 1 cars will use different aerodynamic specifications at the Singapore Grand Prix. Rookie driver Kimi Antonelli will continue with the Sepang-derived floor and side-pod updates introduced in Malaysia, while George Russell will revert to the earlier package that was used in Baku, Budapest and Zandvoort.
The team said the new floor and bodywork, first run in Bahrain and refined for the Malaysian round, provided higher downforce in fast corners but behaved unpredictably on the rough Sepang track. Mercedes noted that the car struggled with the surface, requiring drivers to apply mid-corner throttle to stabilise the rear.
Russell, who will serve a grid penalty for a power-unit change in Singapore, explained the decision: "When the failure happened it was kind of a no-brainer, because we were kind of 50-50 about it pre-race, and I was more in favour to do it."
He added that the car’s performance had varied widely across recent circuits, suggesting the Sepang package’s issues were circuit-specific. Antonelli said he will keep the Sepang specification throughout the weekend, believing the Malaysian race was an outlier due to extreme heat and a very rough tarmac. > "The numbers told us a different story in Sepang, but I think it was a bit of an outlier because the tarmac was just so rough and it was so hot."
Both drivers expect the Singapore event, with its cooler temperatures and smoother surface, to provide a clearer comparison of the two setups.