George Russell hits back at rivals over Mercedes front wing scrutiny
Championship leader George Russell has accused rivals of attempting to slow Mercedes down after the team’s front wing came under scrutiny ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Brackley-based outfit have dominated the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with the British driver and his team-mate Kimi Antonelli securing a victory each.
However, opposing teams raised concerns following the recent race in China after video footage suggested Antonelli’s front wing did not fully close under braking.
Active aerodynamics under the microscope
Under the new 2026 technical regulations, cars feature active aerodynamics where front and rear wings open on designated straights before closing when the driver brakes.
The governing body mandates that the transition time between these aerodynamic states must not exceed 0.4 seconds.
Footage from the Shanghai circuit appeared to show the Italian teenager’s wing remaining partially open beyond the permitted timeframe.
The FIA has subsequently held discussions with the Silver Arrows regarding the aerodynamic mechanism.
‘No advantage’ for championship leaders
Russell, who currently holds a four-point advantage at the summit of the drivers’ standings, insists the delay is an operational flaw rather than a deliberate performance enhancement.
“It wasn’t intentional, and I don’t think it’s not an advantage, for sure,” said the current championship leader.
“It’s actually a problem, so something we’re trying to solve.”
“It isn’t a straightforward solution, but there is definitely no advantage to that because when we brake, the front wing is still open.”
“Kimi had the lock up towards the end of the race, and I think this was a contribution to the front wing, so it’s definitely not intentional.”
Wolff warns of political knives
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had already anticipated backlash, warning of political manoeuvres being aimed at his garage.
The Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton remain the closest challengers to the current constructors’ leaders but have admitted they face a significant pace deficit.
In a separate development ahead of qualifying in Suzuka, the FIA has implemented a late rule tweak regarding power unit energy recovery.
The permitted energy recharge has been reduced from 9.0 megajoules to 8.0 megajoules in an effort to limit electrical clipping at the end of long straights.
