Mercedes unveiled a split‑spec tactic for Singapore, following its new floor and bodywork package’s underperformance in Bahrain.
Mercedes split specifications for Singapore
The team opted for a back‑to‑back experiment, sending George Russell home with the prior‑version car that won him Baku, while the front‑wing variant continued in the successor tyre. Bradley Lord called the approach “the fastest way to learn in the real world” while staying within the cost‑cap limits.
Cost‑cap and sprint weekend constraints
Lord explained that the cost‑cap drove the decision to run two cars in parallel. “It allowed us to re‑use existing components, test effectively, and conserve budget while still gaining data in a sprint‑focused, one‑weekend build,” he said on the Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show.
Testing insights from Sepang
Simone Resta noted Sepang’s high ambient temperatures, rapid rainfall changes, and extreme tyre degradation created unpredictable data that didn’t translate to the rest of the calendar. “The evidence from Sepang was not a one‑to‑one picture for other tracks,” he said. “We needed a test, so we immediately ran one next race and got the clarity we required.”
Mercedes measured increased downforce from the new floor, yet found the lift was uneven, alarming the front end. Resta described the task as “recentering the window we operate the car” and stressed learning had to accelerate during the short sprint weekend, where “you cannot play around after the race.”
Front‑wing experiment and balance
At Singapore’s free practice, Andrea Kimi Antonelli tested a new front‑wing set, then returned to the older version for the main sessions. Lord said the experiment was “worthwhile,” noting the data would “help us hit the ground running” when both cars return with updates for Austin.
Resta added that the team only had one prototype wing, risking pit‑lane damage, so holding it for qualifying or the sprint seemed too risky.
Race outcomes and outlook
Russell fought from the back of Marina Bay’s grid to finish ninth, while Antonelli secured a podium, edging closer to a maiden F1 title. The split‑spec approach will clarify the effect of weight distribution, downforce symmetry, and tyre strategy in the upcoming races.
Photo by: Srinivasa Krishnan
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