Antonelli says Mercedes has yet to unlock its new F1 package

George Russell called Red Bull the team to beat after the Singapore Grand Prix. Kimi Antonelli pointed to several factors behind the team’s strength: Red Bull had made a major step forward, Mercedes was not yet extracting the full potential from its new package, and Max Verstappen probably feels more comfortable in the car and gets more out of it. Antonelli, who finished third in Singapore, described it as a combination of factors.

Antonelli said Mercedes’ optimum performance window is currently very small. The car is highly sensitive to driving style, corner entry and braking, he said.

He also praised Mercedes’ work in Singapore: the team got the car into a better window, which gave him more confidence. Antonelli called that a starting point for further development and more speed.

In Austin, Antonelli said, Mercedes will have three practice sessions to review the set-up with an open mind and find a way to use the package’s full potential. His aim, he said, is to see the team win again.