The recent decision by Mercedes to split its aerodynamic packages for the Singapore Grand Prix has caused controversy. With Andrea Kimi Antonelli experimenting with the new improvements and George Russell returning to a previous specification, many have labeled this strategy as a desperate act to save the championship lead. However, Russell clarified that this decision was not a last-minute reaction, but had been discussed in advance.
During his appearance before the media at the Marina Bay Circuit, Russell revealed that his proposal to revert to the old aerodynamic package did not arise due to the failure of his engine during the last laps of the Bahrain Grand Prix, but was a plan prior to the race. “I actually started the conversation before the race on Sunday,” explained the British driver.
The choice to return to an earlier design was facilitated by the fact that Russell already had to face a significant engine penalty in Singapore. This made it easier for him to decide to sacrifice aerodynamic performance to carry out a basic setup test. “The failure made the decision a no-brainer because we were already undecided before the race,” he stated.
Despite the criticism regarding the new aerodynamic improvements, Russell rejects the idea that they have a fundamental flaw. He claims that the ground effect cars of 2026 are extremely sensitive to track characteristics. “There are no signs indicating that the improvement was not working. We know that the car we had in Baku was the same as in Budapest and Zandvoort,” he commented, highlighting the variations in vehicle performance.
According to Russell, the lack of pace in Sepang is attributable to track conditions. “We are quite convinced that it is a Malaysia-specific problem,” he asserted. Furthermore, he noted that the grid order was distorted by the circuit surface, with Red Bull Racing showing superior performance to their usual level.
The step back to the previous specification does not constitute a major penalty for Russell, as it is the same aerodynamic package that allowed him to dominate at the Baku circuit shortly before.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
