Formula1
Mercedes F1 Upgrade Leaves Drivers and Wolff Unsure
Mercedes expected its latest F1 upgrade to deliver a clear step forward in Malaysia. Instead, Kimi Antonelli, George Russell and Toto Wolff are still trying to understand its true performance.
Mercedes leaves Sepang with more questions than answers
Mercedes arrived at the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia with its first major upgrade package in months.
The team introduced changes to the floor edge, sidepods and rear diffuser. The goal was to extract more performance from the W17 during the final part of the season.
The first signs were mixed.
George Russell was second in FP1. Kimi Antonelli then went fastest in FP3. But qualifying told a very different story.
Antonelli qualified fourth. Russell could only manage eighth.
After Isack Hadjar’s penalty, Antonelli moved to third on the grid and Russell to seventh. Even so, Mercedes was surprised by the gap to Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.
George Russell struggled to explain Mercedes’ qualifying deficit after the team’s latest upgrade package arrived in Sepang.
Russell was direct after the session.
He said Mercedes did not know exactly why the pace had disappeared. He also pointed to Sepang’s unusual asphalt and the severe tire degradation affecting the W17.
Antonelli sees speed, but only in some corners
Antonelli offered a similar assessment.
The championship leader said the new package appears to operate in a different performance window. Mercedes was strong in high-speed corners, but it struggled more in slower sections.
That creates an important question.
Is the problem caused by Sepang’s surface and heat? Or has the new package changed the car’s behavior in a way Mercedes has not fully understood yet?
Antonelli said the team needed to answer that question quickly.
Kimi Antonelli topped FP3 before Mercedes lost ground during qualifying.
There is another problem.
Mercedes cannot make a direct comparison between the old and new versions of the car during this weekend. The upgrade was fitted to both cars, so the team has no identical back-to-back test on the same track and under the same conditions.
That makes the data harder to interpret.
A strong result would have suggested the upgrade was working. A poor result could have indicated a problem. Instead, Sepang has delivered a mixture of both signals.
The numbers say the upgrade is working
Russell highlighted that contradiction.
According to the Mercedes driver, all the internal numbers indicate that the upgrade is an improvement. The problem is that the stopwatch did not show the same thing in qualifying.
That difference is critical in Formula 1.
A wind tunnel, simulator and trackside models can point in one direction. Lap time remains the final measurement.
Mercedes therefore needs to determine whether Sepang is hiding the package’s potential or exposing a weakness created by its operating window.
The W17 showed competitive flashes during practice, but Mercedes struggled to maintain that performance when qualifying arrived.
Toto Wolff is also searching for an explanation
Toto Wolff’s assessment was almost identical.
The Mercedes team principal said the car displayed behavior the team had not seen all season. He also pointed to the combination of extreme heat and Sepang’s very different asphalt.
The biggest problems were visible in two areas.
Mercedes appeared to lose too much time on the straights. In slower corners, the W17 also suffered from excessive understeer.
Wolff also rejected the idea that rival teams had simply been hiding performance.
Instead, he believes something else is happening with the Mercedes package.
Sepang may not provide the final answer
The track itself makes the situation harder.
Sepang has a very abrasive surface. The heat also pushes the tires toward overheating, which can reduce the benefit of additional aerodynamic downforce. Mercedes acknowledged that both factors were affecting the new package.
The race could therefore provide a different picture.
Russell expects very high tire degradation, with all three available compounds potentially playing a role. That could make race pace more representative than one qualifying lap.
Mercedes therefore has one more opportunity this weekend.
The team can study tire behavior, long-run pace and the way the W17 reacts to different track conditions. That information should help separate a genuine weakness from a difficult circuit.
Singapore could be the real test
The next race may provide a cleaner answer.
Formula 1 moves from Sepang to Singapore on October 9-11. The Marina Bay circuit has very different characteristics, which could help Mercedes understand whether the new package works across a broader range of conditions.
Mercedes still believes the upgrade works.
The problem is not the data itself. The problem is understanding why the expected lap-time advantage did not appear in Malaysia.
That makes the Mercedes F1 upgrade one of the biggest technical questions heading into the final races of 2026.
The answer may come from the data collected in Sepang, but Mercedes will likely need another circuit before it can confidently determine whether the new W17 package is truly a step forward.
Kimi Antonelli arrives in Texas with a chance to become Formula 1’s youngest world champion, while Max Verstappen targets a third consecutive victory.
The 2026 United States Grand Prix takes centre stage this weekend as Formula 1 returns to Austin for Round 18 of the season. The main storyline is clear: Antonelli could secure his maiden drivers’ championship, but Verstappen’s recent resurgence promises a major challenge at the Circuit of The Americas.
Antonelli heads to Austin with a commanding championship lead and his first opportunity to clinch the title.
Antonelli’s first shot at the world title
Antonelli leads the standings with 340 points, ahead of Mercedes team-mate George Russell on 238 and Lewis Hamilton on 229. The Italian holds a 102-point advantage over Russell and could mathematically seal the championship this weekend.
However, the outcome depends on several results. Antonelli needs to win in Austin, Russell must finish ninth or lower, and Hamilton cannot finish higher than fifth. Even then, the title fight remains open if those conditions are not met.
Meanwhile, Verstappen arrives in Texas after winning the Malaysian and Singapore Grands Prix. The Red Bull driver has won four of the last five races held at Austin, making him one of the key contenders to watch.
Austin schedule: Practice, qualifying and race
The weekend follows the traditional format, with three practice sessions and no Sprint race. Friday features the first two sessions, while Saturday brings final practice and qualifying.
- Friday, October 23: Free Practice 1 at 12:30 p.m. local time and Free Practice 2 at 4 p.m.
- Saturday, October 24: Free Practice 3 at 12:30 p.m. and qualifying at 4 p.m.
- Sunday, October 25: The United States Grand Prix starts at 3 p.m. local time.
Each session will help teams refine their car setups before Sunday’s 56-lap race. Weather forecasts point to warm conditions, with little chance of rain during practice and qualifying. Sunday has a slightly higher possibility of showers, although dry conditions remain the main expectation.
The 5.513-kilometre Circuit of The Americas combines fast corners, heavy braking zones and technical sections.
The circuit’s biggest challenges
Austin is known for its steep climb into Turn 1, where drivers must choose their line carefully at the start. The first sector features rapid changes of direction, while the long back straight creates a major overtaking opportunity into Turn 12.
The circuit’s final sector brings another challenge, with slower corners demanding traction and careful throttle control. Track limits can also become a factor, particularly through the later turns.
Pirelli has selected the C2 hard, C3 medium and C4 soft compounds for this weekend. Tyre wear could play a decisive role because of the circuit’s layout and the high temperatures expected in Texas. A one-stop strategy may be attractive, but teams will need to assess degradation during practice before committing to a race plan.
Verstappen’s record and the key numbers
Verstappen won the 2025 United States Grand Prix and has established an impressive record at the Texas venue. Lewis Hamilton remains the circuit’s most successful driver, with six victories, while Michael Schumacher and Hamilton share the record for the most poles at four apiece.
The current lap record is 1:36.169, set by Charles Leclerc with Ferrari in 2019. This year’s race covers 56 laps, adding up to 308.405 kilometres.
Verstappen arrives after consecutive victories and will aim to continue his strong run at the Texas circuit.
A weekend with major championship implications
Austin opens a demanding run of three consecutive race weekends across the Americas, followed by events in Mexico City and São Paulo. That schedule leaves little time for teams to recover from mistakes or introduce major changes.
For Antonelli, the United States Grand Prix represents an early opportunity to turn a strong season into a historic title triumph. For Verstappen, it is a chance to extend his winning streak and disrupt Mercedes’ momentum.
The first answers will come in Friday’s practice sessions. By qualifying on Saturday, the teams should have a clearer picture of the pace and tyre performance that could decide Sunday’s race.
Kimi Antonelli leads the 2026 Formula 1 standings by 102 points and could mathematically secure his first world title at the United States Grand Prix.
Kimi Antonelli is getting closer to the biggest achievement of his Formula 1 career. After finishing on the podium at the Singapore Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver remains at the top of the championship with six rounds left in the season.
Antonelli has led the drivers’ championship since the Japanese Grand Prix.
Antonelli has collected 340 points, giving him a 102-point advantage over teammate George Russell, who sits second with 238. Lewis Hamilton is third with 229 points, 111 behind the leader. Despite the growing gap, five other drivers remain mathematically eligible to win the championship: Russell, Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
How many points remain?
Six rounds are left, beginning with the United States Grand Prix in Austin. A driver who wins every remaining Grand Prix can score a maximum of 150 points, leaving the championship mathematically open for several contenders.
However, the situation becomes increasingly difficult for Antonelli’s rivals. Their chances depend on the Italian scoring no additional points while they collect enough results to surpass his current total. Russell, Hamilton and Verstappen could mathematically secure the title as late as Qatar, while Leclerc and Norris would have to wait until the Abu Dhabi finale under the scenario outlined by the championship calculations.
Russell is Antonelli’s closest challenger with six rounds remaining.
What Antonelli needs to win in Austin
Antonelli could clinch the championship at the United States Grand Prix, but he would need a strong result combined with mistakes from his closest rivals. He must win the race, Russell must finish ninth or lower, and Hamilton must finish fifth or lower. Verstappen’s finishing position would not affect this particular scenario.
Under those conditions, Antonelli would score enough points relative to his rivals to secure the championship with races still remaining. The required margins are 23 points over Russell, 14 over Hamilton and six over Verstappen.
Victory in Austin could put Antonelli within reach of his first Formula 1 world title.
The United States Grand Prix therefore represents the earliest possible opportunity for Antonelli to become world champion. If the necessary results do not happen in Austin, he will have further opportunities across the final five rounds of the 2026 season.
Aston Martin will showcase a special AMR26 livery at the United States Grand Prix, celebrating five years of its partnership with Cognizant.
Aston Martin is preparing a special appearance for the 2026 United States Grand Prix in Austin, where its AMR26 will mark five years of collaboration with Cognizant. The partnership began in 2021 and remains part of the team’s identity in Formula One.
The AMR26 will carry a special design for the United States Grand Prix weekend.
Aston Martin Marks Five Years With Cognizant
The Austin Grand Prix provides the setting for Aston Martin to recognize the milestone. Since the partnership began in 2021, Cognizant has maintained a prominent association with the team’s Formula One program.
The anniversary also comes as the relationship expands into new areas of technology. Earlier in 2026, Cognizant became Aston Martin’s Global AI Services Partner, strengthening the technological dimension of the collaboration.
Technology and Formula One
Modern Formula One relies on data analysis, software and advanced computing to support decisions throughout a race weekend. Teams use these tools to evaluate performance, develop strategies and improve their operations.
Aston Martin’s expanded relationship with Cognizant reflects the growing role of artificial intelligence and digital technology in motorsport. However, the partnership’s announcement alone does not establish a specific performance gain for the AMR26.
Data analysis and digital tools are important parts of modern Formula One operations.
Austin Provides the Backdrop
The United States Grand Prix gives Aston Martin an opportunity to highlight the anniversary in front of American fans. The special livery will bring the partnership into focus during the Austin race weekend.
The design also connects the team’s on-track presence with a collaboration that has evolved since 2021. With Cognizant’s expanded role in artificial intelligence, the anniversary reflects both the history of the relationship and its continuing technological focus.
Aston Martin’s special AMR26 appearance will be one of the team’s key visual elements at the United States Grand Prix. Further details about the livery’s specific design features should be confirmed through the team’s official announcement.
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