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Antonelli Reveals Key Progress in Mercedes’ Latest Upgrades
Highlights
- Kimi Antonelli confident in Mercedes’ progress at US Grand Prix
- Mercedes tested upgraded W17 car on both drivers at COTA
- Antonelli recovered from seat issue, 0.042 seconds behind Leclerc
- Mercedes aims for optimal balance after Singapore data analysis
- Deputy principal Lord tempers expectations amid tight competition
- Championship battle remains close; Mercedes seeks small performance gains
Kimi Antonelli says Mercedes makes tangible gains with its updated W17 in United States Grand Prix practice. Both drivers run the same spec, improving understanding of the upgraded W17 package.
The upgrade debuted in Malaysia but underdelivered. George Russell reverted in Singapore. Mercedes uses the week off to re-baseline the car and refine setup targets for Austin.
Running identical hardware allows a broader test matrix. The team cross-checks aero and mechanical changes across both cars. Antonelli labels FP2 a step forward, with the package responding predictably.
FP2 begins with a poorly fixed seat, unsettling the car in high-speed corners. After a fix, Antonelli rebounds to within 0.042s of Charles Leclerc’s Friday benchmark.
Antonelli ends FP2 0.042s off Leclerc despite early seat issue.
Deputy team principal Bradley Lord tempers expectations. The leading group remains compressed. Long-run traces suggest tenths separate Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Antonelli, and Lando Norris, keeping strategy and tyre life pivotal.
Mercedes prioritises balance and correlation for the new parts. Post-Singapore analysis guides setup choices, while two-car testing accelerates learning and prospects of winning at COTA remain finely poised.
Title context sharpens the stakes. Antonelli can close the gap with a strong result. Clinching now requires Russell ninth or lower, a scenario Mercedes is not targeting.
Mercedes treats Austin as a standard weekend amid tight title fight.
Within Mercedes, Antonelli’s form makes him the reference. The team balances development with execution, reflecting Antonelli’s status as Mercedes’ leading contender and a recent warning to Antonelli this season.
Qualifying and race execution likely decide outcomes. COTA’s bumps, wind, and tyre warm-up narrow operating windows. The trend is positive, but repeatable long-run pace remains the real proof of progress.
Both Mercedes drivers run identical spec, accelerating setup correlation and learning.
Visual Summary
Antonelli
Mercedes On the Rise
Antonelli closes in at COTA 🇺🇸
Less than 0.05s off P1 in practice – Mercedes’ upgrades finally fire
Every lap counts in the title hunt
🏆
Championship
“It’s a step in the right direction. We’re extracting more performance every session. The fight is closer than ever.”
— Kimi Antonelli
— Kimi Antonelli
Gap to Leclerc:
+0.042s
Mercedes’ upgrades spark hope — title fight is ON
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
