Mercedes has confirmed that both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will use the latest specification of the W17 at the 2026 United States Grand Prix, scheduled for October 23–25 at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin.
The decision follows an unusual weekend in Singapore, where the Brackley-based team ran different aerodynamic configurations on its two cars to gather information about its latest developments.
The experiment was designed to investigate the difficulties that emerged after Mercedes introduced its upgrade package in Malaysia.
With the championship entering its final stages, the team has now decided to return to a common specification as it attempts to regain its competitive advantage.
Singapore Experiment Helps Mercedes Identify Its Development Direction
The upgrades introduced at Sepang did not immediately deliver the expected performance improvements.
Although the new components increased aerodynamic downforce, they also made the W17 more difficult to manage, particularly through slower corners and during corner entry.
To investigate the issue, Mercedes adopted two different configurations for the Singapore Grand Prix.
Antonelli continued with the updated aerodynamic package, while Russell reverted to the previous specification.
This approach allowed the engineers to compare the two versions directly and collect valuable data about their respective strengths and weaknesses.
The work carried out on Antonelli’s car produced encouraging results. After several setup adjustments, the Italian found a better balance and finished the race in third place.
The comparison helped Mercedes establish a clearer development direction, although some of the car’s handling difficulties remain unresolved.
Wolff Confirms Latest Upgrades for Both Cars
Ahead of the United States Grand Prix, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed that both drivers would run the latest aerodynamic specification.
Wolff acknowledged that the team’s performances in Malaysia and Singapore had fallen short of expectations, prompting an extensive investigation into the reasons behind its difficulties.
The team has spent the intervening period analysing the available data and working to improve the W17’s behaviour.
Austin will therefore provide an important opportunity to assess whether Mercedes has made progress.
The decision to run the updated package on both cars demonstrates the team’s determination to continue developing the W17 despite its strong position in the championship standings.
W17 Development: More Downforce but a Narrower Operating Window
One of Mercedes’ main challenges has been finding the correct balance with its latest aerodynamic package.
The upgrades have increased the available downforce, particularly through high-speed corners, but they have also affected the car’s handling characteristics.
As a result, the W17 appears to have a narrower operating window, requiring precise setup adjustments to extract its maximum potential.
During the Singapore weekend, Antonelli and his engineers experimented with several changes aimed at improving stability under braking and through corners.
The adjustments delivered encouraging improvements, but Mercedes must still establish a setup that performs consistently across circuits with different characteristics.
The Circuit of The Americas will provide a demanding test, combining high-speed corners, rapid direction changes and slower technical sections.
Its varied layout should help Mercedes determine whether the latest configuration offers a genuine improvement.
Red Bull’s Recent Victories Increase the Pressure
Mercedes’ decision to continue developing the W17 follows two races in which Red Bull returned to the top step of the podium.
Max Verstappen secured consecutive victories in Malaysia and Singapore, ending Mercedes’ recent winning momentum.
Despite holding a strong position in both championship battles, Wolff believes the team cannot afford to relax.
The competition remains extremely close, making continued progress essential if Mercedes wants to remain consistently competitive during the closing stages of the season.
The team principal is determined to prevent its championship advantage from reducing the urgency of its development programme, particularly as its rivals continue to improve.
Austin Offers Mercedes an Important Opportunity
The Circuit of The Americas has historically been a successful venue for Mercedes.
Since the introduction of hybrid power units, the team has claimed five victories at the United States Grand Prix, although its most recent win in Austin came in 2019.
The Texas event also begins a sequence of three consecutive Grand Prix we