George Russell has defended Mercedes' front wing design as the team faces renewed scrutiny over the component. The feature became a topic of discussion after footage emerged during the Chinese Grand Prix in March, appearing to show Kimi Antonelli's front wing failing to close within the permitted 0.4 seconds under braking.
Russell dismissed suggestions that the design provides an advantage, calling it a problem the team is trying to solve. 'It wasn't intentional, and I don't think it's an advantage, for sure. It's actually a problem, so something we're trying to solve,' he said in March. 'Kimi had the lock up [towards the end of the race]. I think this was a contribution to the front wing, so it's definitely not intentional.'
Lewis Hamilton, now at Ferrari, recently called on his team to investigate the front wings of Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull after finishing behind them in Miami. 'Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull are doing something different with the front wing to us. So we need to look into that to see whether or not there's something we can improve on,' Hamilton said.
Mercedes have made an impressive start to the season, with Russell winning the opening race and Antonelli securing three victories. Russell hit back at suggestions that rivals are trying to slow them down: 'That's just how sport goes on to be honest. That has always been the case. Just because we're sort of back on top, I don't think it's quite right, everybody's trying to slow us down, especially when you're two races in.'
Hamilton noted that Mercedes brought fewer upgrades than Ferrari in Miami, but their package still proved effective. 'Mercedes did bring improvements, just not the same as others. They had like two and we had, I don't know, eight or something. Their package is coming next race,' he said.
