Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell will revert to a previous-specification rear suspension with the W16 car at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix. This move is part of Mercedes’ strategy to understand where its recent development path may have taken a misstep after a tough recent run.
Why it matters
Though George Russell won the Canadian Grand Prix, it’s been a rough period for the Brackley operation since the Spanish Grand Prix. Mercedes sits third in the Constructors’ Championship but lost ground to Ferrari last weekend in Belgium. Both Russell and Antonelli endured difficult weekends at Spa, raising concerns that W16 development has hit a dead end. Maximizing current performance takes on even greater importance as new rules for next year mean teams are already turning their attention to the F1 2026 design, with few upgrades expected across the field for the remainder of this season.
The details
Kimi Antonelli confirmed the suspension change, stating, “Since we moved to that suspension, apart from Canada, I’ve been struggling to drive the car and getting the confidence. Probably also my side, I didn’t adapt the best because I was always trying to keep my style and to drive the car the way I wanted, but it didn’t really work out.”
He added, “George, on the other hand, has been adapting better. Also, he has a different driving style, but he’s been able to adapt a bit better and I think that’s what’s been hurting me in this European season. Hopefully, by going back to the old suspension, it will bring back a bit the feeling I had prior to the start of the European season.”
George Russell also explained after the Belgian GP, “The car isn’t feeling as nice to drive at the moment as it once did, lacking rear stability, whereas at the start of the year it was much better. I think Kimi and I are collectively making more mistakes because the car is more challenging to drive.”
What’s next
Mercedes is attempting to fast-track its understanding of its recent dip in form. The team’s trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, indicated after the Belgian GP that changes were possible. Solving this mystery is crucial in the battle for second in the Constructors’ Championship, which is estimated to be worth around $10 million in prize money next season.