Russell: Mercedes still 'outside the window' with upgraded W17 after Mexico Friday practice

George Russell says Mercedes is still not fully on top of its upgraded W17, with both cars sitting outside the set-up window after Friday practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix — even as he ended FP2 third, just a tenth behind pacesetter Charles Leclerc.

Why it matters:

Mercedes brought the update to Malaysia this month and was comfortably beaten by Max Verstappen there, then again in Singapore. Kimi Antonelli's pole-to-flag win in Austin showed the package's ceiling; Russell's DNF, P9 and P8 across the last three rounds showed its floor. A narrow operating window is now the defining issue of Mercedes' title run-in.

The details:

• Russell was third in FP2 but admitted the balance "isn't where we want it" and the through-corner behaviour still needs work. Frederik Vesti ran his car in FP1.
• Leclerc topped both sessions, which Russell expected. Ferrari's SF-26 runs a smaller turbo — a real advantage at altitude, where the turbo works harder, and especially now that the MGU-H has been dropped under the 2026 regulations.
• Deputy team principal Bradley Lord called it a "solid, not spectacular" day, pointing to power unit cooling, brake cooling and boost management as the puzzles still to solve.

What's next:

There is precedent for a swift turnaround: Leclerc led both Friday sessions in Austin before Antonelli dominated the weekend. Mercedes will dig through the data overnight to find the best compromise for qualifying and the race.