Kimi Antonelli has faced notable challenges adapting to the new-spec Mercedes W17 car during the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix weekend. After finishing seventh in both Friday’s practice and Sprint Qualifying, the young driver described the upgraded car as difficult to handle and unpredictable compared to the older specification used by his teammate George Russell.
Mercedes chose to run split specifications at Singapore, with Russell reverting to the Azerbaijan-spec car while Antonelli continued with the Malaysia-spec upgrade. Russell showed strong pace by leading Friday’s practice and securing second place in Sprint Qualifying, despite serving a grid penalty for an engine change. Meanwhile, Antonelli’s seventh-place finishes reflected the struggles he encountered with the newer car.
Antonelli openly acknowledged the difficulties he experienced from the very first practice session, describing the upgraded car as “very difficult” and “unpredictable.” He noted that putting together a consistent lap was challenging, and he expected the weekend to remain tough unless improvements could be made. To address these issues, Antonelli and his race engineer Pete Bonnington planned to work on the car’s setup overnight in an effort to enhance performance.
The decision to run split car specifications came after inconclusive results from the Malaysia upgrades, prompting Mercedes to test both versions during the Singapore weekend. While Russell’s older spec showed competitive pace, Antonelli’s experience with the newer car highlighted the challenges teams face when integrating updates mid-season.
Russell’s grid penalty for an engine change added complexity to his weekend, but his performance in practice and qualifying sessions indicated that the older spec remained competitive under the current conditions. Antonelli’s comments underline the fine margins and adaptability required when switching to a new car specification, especially on a demanding street circuit like Singapore.
As the weekend progressed, the focus for Antonelli and his team was on finding setup improvements to better manage the car’s behaviour. His feedback provides insight into how even small changes in car specification can significantly impact driver confidence and lap consistency. The ongoing evaluation of both specs will likely influence Mercedes’ approach in upcoming races.
Antonelli’s remarks reflect the specific challenges faced during this phase of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend rather than a broader assessment of the season. The situation highlights the complexities involved in car development and the balancing act teams perform when introducing upgrades while maintaining race competitiveness.