Summary
- Mercedes’ major upgrade has appeared at Sepang, with changes around the sidepods, engine cover and floor.
- Antonelli has estimated a potential gain of 0.3 seconds per lap, which remains to be demonstrated on track.
- Russell arrives after winning in Baku, 66 points behind his teammate in the championship.
Mercedes has revealed the first visible elements of its major Sepang upgrade, giving George Russell and Kimi Antonelli a revised W17 for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The car appeared in the pit lane on Thursday, ahead of Friday’s opening practice.
The package arrives at a significant moment in the F1 championship. Russell’s Azerbaijan victory reduced Antonelli’s advantage from 81 to 66 points, and the British driver hopes the changes will help Mercedes strengthen its performance on circuits with more conventional layouts.
What has Mercedes changed for Sepang?
The first images show revisions to the sidepods and engine cover, alongside changes in the aerodynamic structures ahead of the floor. The visible work refines the existing concept rather than introducing a completely different car.
There are also modifications around the bargeboard area and the vanes at the floor’s leading edge. These are among the details Mercedes will evaluate when the updated W17 runs in practice.
The images establish what has changed externally, but cannot establish the lap-time gain. Friday’s running will provide the first opportunity to compare the package’s behaviour with the team’s expectations.
Why Russell sees an opportunity
Russell arrives in Malaysia with renewed confidence after converting pole position into victory in Azerbaijan. Speaking ahead of the Sepang weekend, he described a stronger connection with the car since the summer break.
“Baku was an excellent weekend. I really felt in the groove and since the summer break I’ve felt more on top of things,” Russell said.
His optimism also reflects the challenge ahead. Mercedes performed strongly at Baku and Monza, but Russell wants the upgrade to help on circuits where McLaren has recently been more competitive, including Budapest, Zandvoort and Madrid.
Sepang therefore offers a different test from Azerbaijan. Russell believes the package could improve the car’s characteristics in ways that suit him, while his greater understanding of the W17 has restored his confidence in fighting for victories.
That resurgence also affects the team’s decisions during races. GRANDE PRÊMIO has examined why Russell’s renewed title challenge complicates Mercedes’ strategy calls.
Is the upgrade worth 0.3 seconds?
Antonelli has estimated that the package could deliver around 0.3 seconds per lap. That figure describes the anticipated improvement, rather than a result already measured in competitive running at Sepang.
As detailed in GRANDE PRÊMIO’s report on Antonelli’s upgrade expectations, the championship leader also stands to benefit from Mercedes’ development. A faster car gives Russell an opportunity to attack, while giving Antonelli the same opportunity to defend his lead.
Sepang’s conditions will be part of that assessment. Antonelli has highlighted the unusually rough asphalt, while Russell has expressed concern about tyre overheating in dry conditions. Those variables will influence how the drivers extract performance from the revised car.
Formula 1 returns this weekend, from 2–4 October, to Malaysia, which hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action at Sepang.
F1 today: FAQ
Who was fastest in Bahrain GP practice at Sepang?
Max Verstappen topped FP1 with a 1:37.520, beating George Russell by 0.383 seconds. Isack Hadjar finished third, ahead of Charles Leclerc and championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
What time does F1 FP2 start in Malaysia?
FP2 starts on Friday, 2 October, at 16:00 in Malaysia. That is 09:00 BST in the UK, 04:00 EDT in New York and Toronto, 01:00 PDT in Los Angeles and Vancouver, 13:30 IST in India and 18:00 AEST in Sydney and Melbourne.
Why is the Bahrain Grand Prix being held in Malaysia?
The original race at Sakhir was cancelled because of the conflict in the Middle East. Sepang is hosting the replacement event while retaining the Bahrain Grand Prix name, bringing Formula 1 back to the Malaysian circuit for the first time since 2017.
What has Mercedes upgraded for Sepang?
The first images show revised sidepods, an updated engine cover and changes around the floor and bargeboard area.
