Antonelli sees potential in Mercedes upgrade after Singapore qualifying step forward

Kimi Antonelli qualified fourth for the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday, a day after describing Mercedes’ new-spec car as difficult and unpredictable. He said set-up changes had made the car feel better and that the team was beginning to see the upgrade’s potential.

Mercedes had struggled to understand the updates introduced at Sepang and ran two specifications in Singapore: Antonelli kept the newer parts, while George Russell reverted to the old package. In Friday’s Sprint Qualifying, Russell was second; Antonelli was seventh, more than half a second behind.

Saturday’s Sprint brought another reversal: Russell crashed out of the lead on the first lap, while Antonelli finished fourth. Mercedes then made several set-up changes to Antonelli’s car before the main qualifying session.

Russell qualified sixth, just under two tenths slower than Antonelli, but an engine-related penalty will send him to the back of Sunday’s grid.

Antonelli said the changes had put the car in a better operating window, though he said it was still “very, very small” in qualifying. He hopes Mercedes can work around the package’s limitations more effectively in race trim and fight for a podium on Sunday.