Russell points to missing front wing as possible factor in Mercedes’ Sepang struggles

George Russell says a front wing Mercedes did not have in Malaysia may help explain why its Sepang upgrade struggled. At Thursday’s media availability in Singapore, he said Kimi Antonelli was running the component this weekend. “The package was meant to come with the front wing,” Russell said.

Mercedes is comparing the two specifications in Singapore: Antonelli is continuing with the floor-and-bodywork package introduced at Sepang, while Russell has returned to the version he used in Baku earlier in 2026. Russell said the grid penalty for changing power-unit components gave him a good opportunity to revert.

Mercedes said both drivers had more downforce in high-speed corners with the upgrade, but Sepang’s unusual conditions made the package difficult to assess. Antonelli called Sepang an outlier, citing rough tarmac and track temperatures above 60°C at times; he said he believed the upgrade was an improvement. Russell has also said there were no signs that the package was not working.