Sports · Motorsport · 6 hrs ago
Wolff praises Red Bull as Mercedes assesses new upgrade
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised Red Bull’s recent improvement in Formula 1.
Red Bull won in Singapore, with Max Verstappen taking his second consecutive Grand Prix victory.
Wolff said the gains came from the car, the team’s development work and Verstappen’s ability to get the most from it.
Red Bull had made substantial changes to several parts of its car ahead of the Azerbaijan race.
Mercedes introduced a new upgrade but has not yet confirmed whether it has produced the performance it expected.
In Singapore, Kimi Antonelli used the new package while George Russell ran the previous set-up, helping the team compare them.
Wolff said the upgraded car needs a different set-up approach and that Mercedes expects to assess its performance further at the United States Grand Prix in Austin.
Mercedes is assessing whether its latest upgrade has delivered the performance it expected.
At the Singapore Grand Prix, the team split its drivers between the new package and the old set-up to learn more about the upgrade.
Team principal Toto Wolff praised Red Bull’s recent improvement, attributing it to the car, its development path and Max Verstappen.
Wolff said Mercedes’ new car required a different set-up approach and that the upgrade was a step in the right direction.
He said the team would assess the package further at the United States Grand Prix in Austin.
- Who
- Mercedes, led by team principal Toto Wolff, is assessing its upgrade. Wolff also praised Red Bull and Max Verstappen.
- What
- Mercedes is evaluating a new upgrade package while trying to understand Red Bull’s recent improvement.
- When
- At the Singapore Grand Prix; the article was published on 11 October 2026.
- Where
- Singapore, with further evaluation planned in Austin.
- Why
- Malaysia’s track conditions made it difficult for Mercedes to draw reliable conclusions about its new components.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Really you need to take your hat off to what Red Bull has done this season
But it was a step in the right direction
I don't think it does have the performance that we were hoping the upgrade would bring
Red Bull made substantial updates to the floor, diffuser, sidepods, mirrors and halo.
Track conditions made it difficult for Mercedes to draw reliable conclusions about its new components.
Mercedes ran Kimi Antonelli with the new package and front wing, while George Russell used the old set-up.
Wolff said Mercedes would assess whether the upgrade could deliver more performance.
- Mercedes upgrade
- The team said it was a step in the right direction, but had not yet shown the expected performance.
- Singapore test
- Kimi Antonelli used the new package and front wing; George Russell ran the old set-up.
- Red Bull updates
- Changes for the Azerbaijan race included the floor, diffuser, sidepods, mirrors and halo.
- Red Bull wins
- Verstappen took consecutive grand prix wins, according to Wolff’s comments in the article.
- Next evaluation
- Austin, United States Grand Prix
Sources
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