Kimi Antonelli (2nd): Has the mystery surrounding the improved Mercedes finally been solved?

Mercedes took an unusual approach at the Singapore Night Grand Prix: George Russell raced with the same car configuration that Mercedes had used in Baku; Kimi Antonelli, on the other hand, opted for the modified model in Singapore, which Mercedes had first put on the track at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

Background: The Evo package wasn’t fully tested in Malaysia, but according to the data, it offers more potential than the old specification. Kimi Antonelli, too, had every confidence in the car. “I know we’re taking a step forward with this; we just need to get everything working in harmony.”

At the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Texas, the question arises: has the mystery surrounding the improved Mercedes finally been solved? Antonelli set the second-fastest lap time in the second practice session; only Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari was quicker.

Kimi says: “The car felt better than it did in Malaysia and Singapore. We’ve also made good progress with the set-up between the first and second practice sessions.”

“It’s still tricky to get the best out of the car; especially in the long runs, when the tyres degrade, it’s hard work. But we’re constantly working on understanding the improvements better. That’s now slowly starting to pay off.”

Topic of the week

Topic of the week: MotoGP’s new schedule proved highly controversial

In 2027, MotoGP will also enter the 850cc era with a new schedule. It was not so much the changes themselves as the way the decisions were reached that caused a stir. A prime example of: ‘Talking helps’.

Read More

TV Program

Today

Austin: 3. Freies Training

FIA Formula One World Championship

24.10.2026 - 19:25

Going off-track will be a hot topic in qualifying and probably in the race as well. Kimi grins: “Oh yes, you’re off the track in a flash. I, too, have to try and gauge the limits better – to be as fast as possible, but without ending up off the track.”

“The ups and downs of this circuit make the task more difficult, and then there’s the wind, which can catch you out badly in certain corners. You also have to be incredibly careful in the braking zones – brake a bit too hard once and a wheel locks up, and you end up off the track.”

Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord added regarding Friday’s practice session: “Today was about getting the car into the best operating window and – for a fast lap – making the rear tyres last right to the end.”

“We saw a few spin-offs, including one from George Russell, but that had nothing to do with the Evo package or the set-up; it was more down to tyres that were already worn, or a specific engine setting at that moment.”

“We managed to get more out of the car in the second practice session. We still believe that the optimal operating window for the improved race car is quite narrow; we just need to hit it.”