Mercedes has affirmed that Kimi Antonelli’s enhancements are “undeniably quicker” following the split strategy employed in Singapore.
The Mercedes F1 Team departed the challenging 2026 Singapore Grand Prix with more than just a trophy and a substantial collection of Constructors' points. After dedicating the entire weekend to running a split-specification garage to assess their much-discussed aerodynamic updates, the team has now secured the essential data required to tackle the concluding phase of the season.
With Andrea Kimi Antonelli piloting the latest development package and seasoned driver George Russell utilizing an older aerodynamic configuration, Mercedes turned the demanding Marina Bay Street Circuit into a live testing environment.
A crucial assessment weekend
As they approached Singapore, the Mercedes pitwall recognized that achieving a clean set-up for their revised W17 would be exceptionally challenging during a Sprint weekend format. Nevertheless, according to Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin, the significant engineering risk ultimately proved worthwhile.
"One of our primary goals this weekend was to further our assessment of the update package and enhance our understanding of how to extract the most from it," Shovlin stated after the conclusion of Sunday's race. "We gained a wealth of knowledge over the three days and, crucially, witnessed positive indicators in both qualifying and race conditions once we managed to get closer to the optimal operating window."
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Although Russell's race was significantly impacted by a 60-place grid penalty that forced him to start from 19th position, he still managed to aggressively battle his older-spec car into the points. Meanwhile, Antonelli took full advantage of the new floor and wing components, skillfully managing his tyre wear to secure an impressive podium finish.
"Kimi executed a very mature race, handled his tyres effectively, and had the pace to make the moves that earned him a podium," Shovlin commended. "George’s race was always going to be tough starting from the back, but he fought valiantly throughout, executed some brilliant overtakes, and climbed back into the points."
The clear development trajectory
After weeks of grappling with how to balance the car's high-speed and low-speed traits, Mercedes finally has a clear indication of which technical direction to pursue.
"By the end of the weekend, Kimi’s package was evidently the quicker of the two, which instills confidence that we are moving in the right development direction," Shovlin confirmed.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
With Antonelli in a position to potentially secure the 2026 world drivers' championship at the forthcoming United States Grand Prix, discovering the true potential of the upgrade package could not have come at a more opportune moment for the Brackley team.
"There is still work ahead, but the data we’ve collected will be invaluable as we gear up for Austin," Shovlin concluded. "We now have a clearer understanding of where the performance lies and what we need to concentrate on to unlock more of its potential in the closing races of the season."
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