Mercedes confirm car plans for US GP after unusual Singapore split
Mercedes have confirmed Kimi Antonelli and George Russell will both run their latest-specification car at this weekend's United States Grand Prix.
Key points
- Mercedes will run its latest-specification car on both Kimi Antonelli and George Russell at this weekend's United States Grand Prix in Austin.
- Antonelli could clinch his first Drivers' Championship on Sunday if he wins and Russell finishes outside the top eight and Lewis Hamilton is not in the top four.
- Mercedes leads Ferrari by 134 points in the Constructors' Championship and could be in a title-winning position as early as next week's Mexico City Grand Prix.
Mercedes has confirmed that Kimi Antonelli and George Russell will both drive the team's latest-specification car at this weekend's United States Grand Prix in Austin. The team split specifications in Singapore, where only Antonelli ran the upgrades while Russell used the pre-Sepang version after carrying a grid penalty into the weekend.
Antonelli finished third in Singapore, and team boss Toto Wolff said afterwards the team was leaning toward running both cars with the new specification in Austin. Mercedes has now confirmed that plan in its event preview.
What Wolff said
Wolff said Malaysia and Singapore were difficult weekends and that the team has worked to understand its shortcomings. He described Austin as a chance to respond and said the latest update package will run on both cars.
Wolff added that the field is very close and Mercedes must keep improving to fight at the front consistently in the closing races. He also said the team will take the triple-header one race at a time, with the priority on executing well in Austin.
Austin gives us an opportunity to respond.
— Toto Wolff
Title chances in Austin
Antonelli could win his maiden Drivers' Championship as early as this Sunday. That would require him to win while Russell fails to finish in the top eight and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton is not in the top four.
Mercedes leads Ferrari by 134 points in the Constructors' Championship with six rounds left. The team could be in a title-winning position for that title as early as next week's Mexico City Grand Prix. Mercedes will also use a revised livery in Austin, adding blue to the W17s to highlight the car company's MANUFAKTUR personalisation programme.
