Tag: Mercedes W17 upgrades

Kimi Antonelli expects tougher Mercedes battle with George Russell

Kimi Antonelli believes George Russell will have the advantage heading into the upcoming Malaysian weekend after Russell’s victory in Azerbaijan. The Mercedes drivers experienced contrasting fortunes in Baku, with Antonelli starting from 16th after crashing during the opening segment of qualifying while Russell secured pole position.

Antonelli recovered to finish fifth on Sunday, but Russell held off Max Verstappen to claim his first victory since the Austrian Grand Prix in June. The result cut Antonelli’s lead over his Mercedes teammate at the top of the drivers’ standings to 66 points and gave Russell significant momentum before the next race.

Antonelli reflects on difficult Baku weekend

Speaking during media day in Malaysia, Antonelli described Baku as his most difficult weekend of the season but said the experience had provided important lessons. He explained that he deliberately drove below the limit during the race to avoid further risks after the disrupted start to his weekend.

“Last weekend was probably the worst weekend from me, from my side of the season,” he explained during media day in Malaysia. “But still, very good learning from the weekend, and it was also a very strange race for me in Baku because it was one of those races where I consciously tried not to take any risk and just drive under the limit, which was very weird but good.

“It was what I needed on Sunday – I needed a clean result after a very disrupted weekend. After the race, I wasn’t happy with the result and everything, but I learn many things.“The most important is that I need to always be 100 per cent and I need to really do my best to achieve the best result, because if I don’t do everything right, or I don’t try to do everything right in my power, then nothing is going to come my way.”

Asked whether he expected a more intense contest with Russell in the races ahead, Antonelli acknowledged Russell’s strong form but emphasized that his own Baku result came after what he considered his worst weekend of the season.

“For sure. He did an incredible weekend in Baku and he’s got the momentum, but on my side, it was definitely the worst weekend of the season for me.

“But obviously I learned a lot from it and I’m really excited and looking forward to this weekend because I think it’s going to be a big opportunity to score big points. Of course the mindset is always the same to go out there and win, but for sure George has been doing great, especially last weekend, and it’s going to be a tough challenge but I’m looking forward to it.”

Mercedes prepares W17 upgrades for Sepang

Mercedes will bring an upgrade package for the W17 to Sepang, alongside a special livery for the occasion. Antonelli said he was impressed by the circuit after completing the track walk and expects the abrasive surface to place heavy demands on the tyres.

“I’m very much looking forward [to it],” the 20-year-old said. “I’ve just done the track walk and the track looks amazing. The tarmac is very open, very abrasive, so it’s going to be very hard on tyres but, other than that, I’m looking forward to it.“We have upgrades this weekend. It’s always nice the more experience you make, you also appreciate more whenever you bring upgrades because you notice straight away the difference and the details.

“It looks pretty cool, the car with the upgrades. I’m really looking forward to it, and hopefully it’s going to make us even faster.”

Antonelli expects the updates to deliver additional grip and downforce but said Mercedes will need to assess how the package changes the car’s balance once running begins. He also identified long, high-speed corners as an area in which he wants to continue improving his driving.

“The upgrades should bring more grip, more downforce in the car, so on that side hopefully we will have more grip.

“Let’s see how the balance is going to change of the car with the new upgrade. Areas we need to improve… a bit overall, to be fair. I think there’s many areas where I can improve on driving.

“I think this track is going to be a really good test for me, because it’s very long corners where it’s really important not to over-slow the car too much. It’s probably an area where I need to work on quite a bit, but I’m looking forward to it. I did some laps on the sim and it felt good, but of course we’ll see on the real track.”

Why This Matters

Russell’s Azerbaijan win has intensified the internal Mercedes competition while reducing Antonelli’s advantage in the drivers’ standings to 66 points. The Sepang weekend will therefore provide an immediate test of whether Antonelli can respond to Russell’s recent form and whether Mercedes’ W17 upgrades deliver the expected improvement in grip and downforce.

The abrasive Sepang surface and its long corners will also place emphasis on tyre management, car balance and driver precision. For Antonelli, the event represents both an opportunity to score heavily and a test of the specific cornering techniques he identified as an area for development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Kimi Antonelli believe George Russell has the momentum?

Russell won the previous race in Azerbaijan from pole position, while Antonelli started 16th after a qualifying crash. Russell’s victory also reduced Antonelli’s lead in the drivers’ standings to 66 points.

What upgrades is Mercedes bringing to Sepang?

Mercedes will run an upgrade package on the W17 intended to provide more grip and downforce. The team will also use a special livery for the occasion.

What challenges does Antonelli expect at Sepang?

Antonelli expects the abrasive tarmac to be demanding on tyres. He also views the circuit’s long corners as an important test of his ability to maintain speed without slowing the car excessively.