Red Bull’s upgraded RB22 gave Max Verstappen a 0.196‑second advantage over George Russell in Baku, and the momentum carried him to victories in Malaysia and Singapore, leaving Mercedes struggling to unlock the full potential of its new W17 package.
Red Bull’s performance surge
At the outset of the Asian triple‑header, Red Bull installed the final major upgrade on the RB22 for the Baku race. The immediate jump in pace was evident as Verstappen chased Russell but slipped past by a narrow margin that was confirmed by timing sheets.
The upgrade’s impact continued unabated, with Verstappen securing straight‑forward wins in both Malaysia and Singapore. In both events, the car’s performance metrics matched or exceeded the projected gains derived from simulations and wind‑tunnel work.
Mercedes’ W17 upgrade roadblock
Mercedes introduced a long‑awaited upgrade to the W17 during the Malaysian round. However, the Sepang International Circuit’s markedly rough tarmac required the car to exhibit a different balance than the upgrades presupposed, preventing immediate on‑track improvements.
Antonelli, racing the new spec, gathered comparative data across sessions. While the performance envelope widened, the operational window remained narrow, and the car’s response hinged delicately on braking points, corner entry, and driving style.
Drivers weigh in on the upgrade dilemma
George Russell noted that while the upgrade shows potential, “the lap times haven’t reflected that.” Russell blamed a suboptimal virtual safety car window in the Singapore free‑practice session as a missed opportunity, and reiterated that the primary goal for Mercedes now is to extract the missing performance that Max Verstappen has already mastered.
Antonelli confirmed that the team “does see the gains” and is figuring out how to fully exploit them. “The window in which the car operates is very small, and it reacts to how you drive it,” he added, underscoring the need for refined setup.
Anticipation builds for Austin
Mercedes aims to use the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas for a definitive test of the upgrade. The team will have three free‑practice sessions, affording ample data to adjust setup ‘open‑mindedly’ and to pursue the full potential the package offers.
With Russell’s confidence growing from Singapore’s work and Antonelli’s belief that the car can unlock expected gains at a familiar circuit, the upcoming race will be a litmus test of Mercedes’ progress versus Red Bull’s established benchmark.
Driving forward, Mercedes will need to harmonise the new aerodynamic package with the car’s intrinsic sensitivity; only when these elements converge will they transform their provisional gains into winning lap times.
Remarks: Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images; Photo by: Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images.
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