Technical analyst Paolo Filisetti casts his eye over the huge Mercedes upgrade in Canada – and has a key George Russell question…
Mercedes brought a heavily modified W17 to Montreal with eight different modifications for Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. The modifications included changes to the front wing endplates, additional strakes for optimized airflow, a different front brake air intake section for better heat dissipation, and a reprofiling of the barge boards to direct airflow under the floor in two sections.
Other enhancements included an increase in floor vents for a lower aerodynamic seal in front of the rear wheels, reshaping of the upper diffuser, and revised cascade of side winglets to increase downforce and manage airflow efficiently. These modifications allowed for better airflow management, resulting in increased downforce and improved aerodynamic efficiency with the rear wing flap open in Straight mode.
Despite the visible changes, the modifications did not drastically depart from the W17’s aerodynamic concept to maintain near-optimal balance. Kimi Antonelli’s active involvement in decision-making aimed to preserve the W17’s excellent drivability, ensuring the car remains fully under control in all conditions.
The upcoming direct comparison between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell will determine the effectiveness of the modifications over the weekend. Their alignment on the benefits could influence the car’s future development, potentially favoring one driver’s preferences over the other in terms of performance and handling.
