Russell: Mercedes upgrade has yet to deliver on the stopwatch
Archive photograph: George Russell · Chinese Grand Prix qualifying, Shanghai 2026 · 2026-03-14Archive photo · 2026-03-14 · Liauzh · CC BY 4.0
Russell says the stopwatch has not yet backed Mercedes’ new F1 upgrade, although he sees no sign it is not working. He is using the older package in Singapore while Kimi Antonelli has the newer version.
“The stopwatch has not been great for the upgrade yet,” George Russell said in Singapore on Friday. He added that nothing indicated the new Mercedes package was not working and that Saturday might bring a different picture.
Russell is using the older package at Marina Bay, while Kimi Antonelli has the newer version introduced in Malaysia. Russell finished second in Friday’s sprint qualifying; Antonelli was seventh. The contrast is notable, but the qualifying positions alone do not isolate the effect of the update.
On Thursday, Russell said Antonelli was using a front wing in Singapore that Mercedes had not had in Malaysia. He suggested its absence might help explain why the upgrade had worked less well there.
Sources 03
- SOURCEGeorge Russell points to 'stopwatch' concern over Mercedes F1 upgradeRacingNews365 English
- SOURCEGeorge Russell thinks the panic over Mercedes’ failed F1 upgrades is completely wrongMotorsport.com F1
- SOURCEGeorge Russell reveals the missing part that ruined Mercedes’ massive F1 upgradeMotorsport.com F1
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