George Russell has criticised rivals for trying to slow Mercedes after the team’s front wing came under scrutiny ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
Both Russell and team-mate Kimi Antonelli have taken race wins this season, each fending off early Ferrari pressure before controlling the rest of the race. Footage of Antonelli’s first F1 victory in China has attracted attention because the front wing appeared not to close immediately under braking in the clip.
Under the 2026 rules, front and rear wings open on designated straights in Straight Line Mode and must close when the driver brakes. The technical regulations specify the transition between open and closed must not exceed 0.4 seconds. In the China footage, Antonelli’s front wing seemed to remain open beyond that 0.4-second window when he braked.
The FIA has discussed the matter with Mercedes. The team says the behaviour was not deliberate and may have been caused by aerodynamic or mechanical forces. Russell insisted the effect was unintentional and not an on-track advantage, describing it as a problem the team is trying to fix. He noted the wing remained open while braking and suggested that Antonelli’s late-race lock-up may have been linked to the issue.
Broadcaster Karun Chandhok warned that other teams will now scrutinise Mercedes closely, slowing down video and checking for discrepancies, with the FIA keeping watch and acting if necessary. Mercedes principal Toto Wolff has also warned of what he called “political knives” aimed at the team after rivals raised concerns.
A late FIA tweak to qualifying rules for Suzuka reduced the permitted energy recharge from 9.0 MJ to 8.0 MJ. The change is intended to reduce so-called super clipping — when a car recharges toward the end of a straight, which can make it slow before a corner — and to encourage drivers to attack corners in a more normal way. All five power-unit manufacturers (Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull-Ford, Audi and Honda) supported the reduction.
Russell downplayed that adjustment, calling it a small detail that does not fundamentally change things. He said teams will have a bit less battery to recover, requiring slightly more careful energy management. The practical effect, he suggested, should be marginal: perhaps a little less speed mid-straight but a bit more at the end as drivers use energy differently.
One mechanism rivals can use to try to close the performance gap is the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system. Across three ADUO windows, teams that are judged to be at least 2% behind the manufacturer with the strongest internal-combustion engine can gain development chances. The first ADUO is scheduled after round six in Monaco, although the timetable could shift following the cancellations of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races.
On the possibility of rivals playing games, Russell said such dynamics are part of sport and that teams work hard to earn their position. He noted Mercedes endured four difficult years while two other teams dominated, and argued it is unsurprising opponents will scrutinise them now they are back at the sharp end. Russell also pointed out that other teams face challenges — he referred to Red Bull carrying extra weight and McLaren running their Bahrain aero package without a fresh upgrade — and stressed Mercedes have simply started strongly and hope to keep that momentum.
Sky Sports F1 Japanese GP schedule:
Friday March 27
2am: Japanese GP Practice One (session starts at 2.30am)
4.30am: Team Bosses’ Press Conference
5.45am: Japanese GP Practice Two (session starts at 6am)
7.15am: The F1 Show
Saturday March 28
2.15am: Japanese GP Practice Three (session starts at 2.30am)
5am: Japanese GP Qualifying build-up
6am: JAPANESE GP QUALIFYING
8am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday March 29
4.30am: Japanese GP build-up – Grand Prix Sunday
6am: THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
8am: Japanese GP reaction – Chequered Flag
9am: Ted’s Notebook
(All sessions also live on Sky Sports Main Event)
Formula 1 heads to the Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1.