Mercedes assesses W17 upgrade data after recent races
Mercedes says its upgraded W17 is producing more downforce than the earlier version, while the team continues to examine the package after recent events. George Russell has called on Mercedes to better understand its latest upgrades as Red Bull and Max Verstappen have become the benchmark in recent races.
Mercedes has reported fresh findings from its W17 upgrade work, saying the updated car is generating more downforce than the previous specification. The team’s review follows an upgrade experiment and is focused on understanding how the latest package is performing.
The issue has taken on greater importance as Max Verstappen and Red Bull have re-emerged as the standard-setter in recent races. George Russell has said Mercedes needs to get on top of its recent upgrades as it works to improve its competitiveness.
Taken together, the latest comments indicate that Mercedes sees clear gains in one area from the W17 changes, but is still working through the broader picture of how those updates translate on track.