Formula 1 analyst Will Buxton has identified a notable performance disparity within the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team. His observations follow the recent Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, where the team introduced a significant aerodynamic upgrade for their W17 challenger. Buxton specifically highlighted Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s ability to sustain pace despite the car’s overall performance concerns.
The Mercedes W17 received its first major aerodynamic revision since the Canadian Grand Prix earlier this season. This upgrade package, debuted in Malaysia, featured redesigned sidepods with a straight ramp sweeping rearward and lower bodywork adjustments. The team also reworked the floor around the diffuser throat.
These modifications aimed to reshape pressure distribution, improve airflow attachment, and enhance overall aerodynamic load and consistency. Mercedes projected an increase of approximately four percent more downforce without additional drag, targeting a gain of around three-tenths of a second per lap. The objective was to stabilise the W17 on slow-corner exits.
However, the initial results from Malaysia did not align with expectations. Team Principal Toto Wolff suggested the upgrade might have resulted in a loss of 0.4 to 0.5 seconds per lap. This indicates a significant discrepancy between the anticipated performance improvement and the actual on-track outcome.
For the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, Mercedes has implemented a split car specification strategy to gather more definitive data. George Russell has reverted to the previous W17 package, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli continues to run with the updated components.
Antonelli acknowledged the challenge in accurately assessing the upgrade’s effectiveness in Malaysia. He noted that the unusually abrasive asphalt at the Sepang International Circuit made it difficult to determine if the new package improved or worsened performance. Antonelli expressed optimism that the Singapore event will provide clearer insights.
Russell’s decision to revert to the older specification was described as a ‘no-brainer.’ This choice was influenced by his prior familiarity with the package and an impending back-of-the-grid penalty for a power unit change in Singapore.
Antonelli currently leads the Drivers’ Championship by 84 points over Russell, having secured eight victories from fourteen rounds this season. The team’s ongoing data collection in Singapore is crucial to understanding the true value of the W17’s latest aerodynamic developments.
