Mercedes splits car specs between drivers at Singapore

Summarised from Sky Sports's report · Updated 8 Oct, 17:31 · Archive

Mercedes will run different car specifications for each driver at Singapore Grand Prix to investigate why Malaysian upgrade underperformed.

Mercedes will run different car specifications for each driver at the Singapore Grand Prix following an unexpected performance drop at the previous race in Malaysia. George Russell will race the older aerodynamic package last used in Baku, whilst team-mate Kimi Antonelli will run the upgraded specification that debuted at Sepang.

The world championship leaders introduced their first major upgrade to their W17 cars since May at the Malaysian Grand Prix, but the weekend proved challenging, with Max Verstappen and Red Bull dominating instead. Russell, who will start at the back of Sunday's grid due to an engine penalty from his car's failure in Malaysia, suggested the split-package approach. Russell said he 'instigated the conversation' before Sunday's race, describing it as a 'no-brainer' given he was already facing grid penalties anyway. The arrangement allows Mercedes to compare performance data across both specifications throughout the Sprint weekend.

Read the report

• Russell, Antonelli to race with different specs amid Mercedes upgrade concernGeorge Russell will race Mercedes' older-specification car, while Kimi Antonelli will run an upgraded package at the Singapore Grand Prix as the team bid to get to the bottom of why the updates introduced in Malaysia did not deliver the expected performance.Sky Sports · 8 Oct, 16:06

In this story: George Russell · Kimi Antonelli · Mercedes · Singapore · Malaysia · Max Verstappen · Red Bull

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