Mercedes split Singapore specs, Russell fastest in practice
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 9, 2026
Mercedes split specs
Mercedes split its Singapore car specifications and used the sprint weekend to compare the older and newer W17 configurations, giving the team a direct look at two different directions for the same package. George Russell ran the older Azerbaijan-spec car, while Kimi Antonelli kept the newer upgrade package after Mercedes said data from Sepang was inconclusive. Antonelli also carried a new front wing in Singapore as the team tried to help unlock the update. The comparison run mattered because Mercedes’ latest upgrade package has not delivered the performance the team expected, and the back-to-back running offered a cleaner read on where the car stands. The early signs pointed to a clear contrast. Mercedes’ testing suggested the newer version may be trickier to drive, while the older one felt more stable and grippier. That left the team with a sharper picture of the trade-off between development and drivability, but no easy conclusion from the first runs.
Russell pace rises
Russell gave Mercedes a strong reference point by going fastest in practice and then qualifying second for the Singapore Sprint. That speed came with the older specification back under him, which gave the team a useful benchmark as it weighed the two directions for the car. Russell said the old car is “not bad!” and added that the stopwatch had not yet shown the upgrade package to be an improvement. His comments matched the feel from Mercedes’ split running, where the earlier version appeared easier to place on track and more settled through the corners. The result put Russell in position to fight near the front in the sprint, even as the team continued to evaluate which configuration offers the better long-term answer. His weekend still carries a complication, though. He is set to take an engine-related grid penalty for the Grand Prix, which adds another layer to Mercedes’ challenge as it balances short-term pace against the bigger picture.
Antonelli challenges upgrade
Antonelli’s side of the garage told a different story. He finished seventh in practice and qualified seventh for the Singapore Sprint, but the numbers only hinted at how much work remained on the newer package. Antonelli described Mercedes’ upgraded W17 as “very difficult” and “very unpredictable,” a clear warning that the car still needs more understanding before it can match the team’s expectations. He said the weekend looked very difficult unless Mercedes found improvement overnight, and he and his engineers planned to keep searching for gains. The new front wing was part of that effort, but the broader package still did not give him the confidence he wanted. Mercedes had already decided to keep Antonelli on the upgrade path because the Sepang data did not settle the question, and Singapore became the next test of whether the changes can be made to work. For now, the young driver remains in the middle of a development fight, with the team still trying to turn a difficult package into a competitive one.
