George Russell declared a Mercedes Formula 1 car “off the pace” after two Singapore laps, signalling the need for an overnight setup tweak before the Bahrain‑replacement Grand Prix at Sepang.
Practice tells the tale
In Friday’s final practice, Russell slid behind the flag‑holders, 0.383 s from Max Verstappen and 0.492 s from Charles Leclerc. Kimi Antonelli, the reigning champion‑leading teammate, finished fifth and eighth, mirroring the team’s sluggish pace.
The high humidity and constant rain threat slashed tyre life across the grid, and temporary upgrades—seven refreshed components focused on the floor, rear suspension, corners and bodywork—seemed to lose the benefit. Russell admitted that the car feels the downforce correctly, but rampant tyre overheating and degradation keep it a step below.
Upgrade optimism / racing reality
Although the W17 presents “7 major changes,” Russell noted that the upgrades were not enough to offset the Malaysia‑specific challenges. “We need to get on top of that overnight,” he said, hinting at a strategy shift for the race weekend.
With the Saudi and Australian rounds postponed, the event marks Malaysia’s first F1 sprint since 2017. Russell remains determined to clinch a sixth pole in a season punctuated by Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari’s strong credentials.
Looking ahead
Racing fans can expect a sharp start as the team fine‑tunes the setup to meet the track’s unique demands, hoping Russell will close the gap to leading rivals in the coming races.
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