- Russell addresses Mercedes’ unusual front wing behaviour spotted during in China.
- FIA investigated rival complaints and has cleared Mercedes of any wrongdoing.
- Mercedes has fixed the fault and arrives at Suzuka focused on a third straight win.
George Russell broke his silence Thursday on the front wing controversy that had shadowed Mercedes since the Chinese Grand Prix.
Speaking to reporters at Suzuka ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, the championship leader was direct: the wing behaviour seen in Shanghai was a mistake, not a scheme.
“It wasn’t intentional, and it’s not an advantage for sure,” Russell said. “It’s actually a problem, so it’s something we’re trying to solve. It isn’t a straightforward solution, but there is definitely no advantage to that.”
The FIA has since reviewed the matter and accepted Mercedes’ explanation. The governing body closed the investigation, and the W17 will continue racing with the same front wing.
What was spotted in China
The story began with a video clip from Shanghai. It showed the Mercedes front wing behaving in an unusual way on the straights and into corners.
The wing appeared flat at high speed. Under braking, it moved slowly, passing through a halfway position before reaching its final corner setting.
That caught the eye of rivals, including Ferrari. The concern was simple. F1 rules limit how fast wings can switch modes, with a maximum transition time of 0.4 seconds.
The footage suggested the Mercedes wing took longer. It also seemed to move through more than two fixed positions, which raised more questions.
The explanation: a hydraulics miscalculation
The answer turned out to be less dramatic. As reported by The Race, Mercedes traced the issue to a misjudgment in its hydraulic system.
The wing relies on hydraulic pressure to move into its corner position. In China, the team underestimated how much force was needed at high speed.
Air pressure pushing against the wing was stronger than expected. That meant the system could not fully close the wing until the car slowed down.
Mercedes first noticed the issue in qualifying. George Russell called it “damage limitation” at the time, as the team tried to manage several problems at once.
Ahead of the Japanese GP, he pointed to a key moment in the race. “When we brake, the front wing is still open,” Russell said. “Obviously, Kimi had the lock-up. I think this was a contribution to the front wing, so it’s definitely not intentional.”
That lock-up involved teammate Kimi Antonelli. Despite the issue, Antonelli won the race to claim his maiden victory in F1, with Russell finishing second.
FIA satisfied, Mercedes fixes the problem
After talks with Mercedes, the FIA accepted the team’s explanation. It found no sign of rule-breaking or deliberate design.
The governing body also noted that the issue likely hurt performance. A wing that does not settle quickly can upset the car’s balance under braking.
Mercedes has since adjusted the system. The team sees the problem as a reliability issue, not a gain. The same wing design will remain on the car. The FIA considers this part of normal technical discussions between teams and officials.
Now the focus shifts back to the track at Suzuka Circuit. Mercedes arrives with momentum, leading the standings. Russell holds a four-point lead over Antonelli. Ferrari aims to stop the team from taking a third straight win.
The questions about the wing have been answered. What happens next will be decided on the circuit.
