P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes secured a surprise victory in Singapore with George Russell. RacingNews365 technical expert Paolo Filisetti examines whether the team could also pose a threat to McLaren and Red Bull in the final six rounds of the season — and prove to be a joker in the F1 drivers’ championship fight.
George Russell’s convincing victory in the Singapore Grand Prix, supported by a strong performance from Kimi Antonelli, has raised the question of whether Mercedes can be more competitive in the upcoming races. A detailed analysis of the W16’s performance on the Marina Bay Street Circuit reveals that the increased pace was largely due to specific tyre pressure management. Mercedes made targeted adjustments to the characteristic suspension geometry at both the front and rear. In the Southeast Asian city-state, where aerodynamic efficiency depends heavily on downforce, the key to performance was not just tyre wear, but more importantly, the optimal use of the tyres. The W16’s overall balance enabled Russell and Antonelli to find maximum confidence within the tight confines of Marina Bay. The adjustments significantly improved mechanical grip on both axles, allowing the drivers to better sense and push the car to its limits. After a rather difficult first free practice session, the engineers made a series of decisions that almost completely contradicted the simulator data.
