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George Russell pushed for Mercedes split-spec test after Sepang struggles
Mercedes will divide its car specifications for the Singapore Grand Prix to evaluate a major upgrade package.
By Ruben Smit - 2026-10-08T13:35:38.000Z - 3 min read
Mercedes is set to run its Formula 1 cars in split specifications for the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, giving the team a direct opportunity to evaluate its recent upgrade package. The German manufacturer introduced its first major technical revision to the W17 since the end of May at the previous round in Malaysia, but the new floor and bodywork parts failed to deliver the expected competitive performance. Following a difficult weekend at Sepang, the team confirmed a drastic comparison test at the Marina Bay Circuit.
Under the revised plan, George Russell will revert to the older aerodynamic specification that he previously drove to victory in Baku. Meanwhile, championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli will continue to use the latest version of the upgrade package. Russell revealed that he first instigated the idea of a back-to-back comparison prior to Sunday's race in Malaysia. A late power unit failure that forced him to retire five laps from the end, combined with a subsequent engine penalty, ultimately made the decision straightforward.
Speaking to reporters in Singapore, Russell explained that the concept was already under consideration within the team before the race weekend concluded. He noted that the unexpected engine penalty provided a practical chance to roll back to the previous configuration. The Briton described the choice as a logical step to isolate the data, pointing out that fluctuations in performance across previous rounds showed massive swings even with a consistent car setup.
Russell remains convinced that the difficulties experienced in Sepang were specific to that venue rather than indicative of a fundamental flaw in the car. He observed that Red Bull overperformed relative to their season average at the Malaysian venue, while Mercedes' relative pace against rivals like McLaren and Ferrari did not appear entirely out of step. Furthermore, he highlighted that the car configuration used in Baku, Budapest, and Zandvoort had previously yielded strong results, including pole position by a significant margin just weeks prior.
On the other side of the garage, Andrea Kimi Antonelli holds a different view regarding the performance of the new components. The Italian driver, who currently leads the championship standings by 84 points ahead of Russell, believes the upgrade does represent a tangible improvement. He argued that the true performance gains were masked by the extreme conditions at Sepang, which created an unusual testing environment for the team.
Antonelli pointed to the severe track temperature, which exceeded sixty degrees Celsius, alongside extremely rough tarmac where certain corners lacked sufficient surface material. Because the team struggled significantly in low-speed sections during that race, Antonelli views Singapore as a much more representative baseline due to its cooler temperatures and familiar low-speed characteristics. He expects the direct comparison between the two car configurations to yield much clearer answers.
The data collected from the split-specification test will prove crucial for Mercedes as the season progresses. While Antonelli remains confident that the team can unlock the full potential of the new parts once the car is placed in a better operating window, Russell's reversion provides a known benchmark. The direct trackside telemetry from both drivers running different aero packages on the same circuit will give engineers the definitive feedback they missed during the Malaysian weekend.