Why Russell's rebuilt Mercedes lost performance in Singapore
Russell led into Turn 1, but then crashed out (Photo: Race Pictures)
Ben Hunt is an award-winning motorsport journalist with over two decades of experience in Formula 1 and international media. As a former editor-in-chief and bestselling author, he delivers in-depth analysis and strategic insight from the highest level of the sport.
George Russell started the Singapore Grand Prix in a Mercedes partly rebuilt with second-hand parts after it was revealed his team went scrambling for parts to rebuild his car following his crash in the Sprint race.
Russell went into the weekend with a 60-place grid penalty after Mercedes changed several power-unit components. Even so, he topped Friday's only free practice session and qualified second for the Sprint. He did that with an older aerodynamic specification, while teammate Kimi Antonelli raced the updated W17.
Russell passed Max Verstappen for the lead at the start of the wet Sprint. On lap two he lost control at the final corner and crashed into the barriers. It meant the mechanics then had to rebuild the car in time for Grand Prix qualifying.
Mercedes rebuilt Russell's car with parts from earlier race weekends
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The team had to replace the front wing, the floor, the front suspension and the whole rear section of the car. The crash used up so much stock that Mercedes had no brand-new spares left, so the car was put back together with parts that had already been used.
GPblog had already reported that the rebuilt car was not fully back to normal as Toto Wolff Russell's rebuilt Mercedes lacked sensors, with a floor 'not quite as it should be'. Russell qualified sixth, and he could tell something had changed.
Something was a bit odd because we had great pace yesterday and Kimi’s in a similar position to where he was yesterday but I’ve taken a step backwards and the car didn’t feel quite the same.- George Russell after Singapore GP qualifying
Same aero specification, but less performance
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The used parts fitted to Russell's car were exactly the same aerodynamic specification as the new ones. The difference was wear because the parts had already done previous race weekends, they offered less performance than a new set.
Wolff had already dismissed the conspiracy theories during the weekend. He asked whether people really thought he had a button on his desk that could trigger an engine failure for Russell.
Last Sunday, Russell started 19th and finished ninth. Antonelli took third. Speaking to reporters including GPBlog, Wolff explained why the team was satisfied with that result:
So our best case scenario was P7. If it would have gone smoothly, I think you know P9 we need to be happy with that. It was a damage limitation race for us with him starting from the back and then so far I think he drove a great race.- Toto Wolff,
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