Overview
- Mercedes introduced a tweaked rear suspension in May at Imola to address low-speed performance and rear tyre-temperature issues, taking cues from McLaren’s MCL39.
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli struggled to adapt to the added rear-end instability while George Russell coped better, and the rookie described falling into a confidence-sapping “negative spiral” with a low point at Spa.
- After an internal review and a reset following Monza, Mercedes reverted the suspension direction by Hungary, which coincided with Antonelli rebuilding confidence and form.
- The recovery culminated in improved qualifying and race results, including late-season podiums in São Paulo and Las Vegas during his rookie campaign.
- Trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin says Antonelli is now a more rounded grand prix driver, and Toto Wolff projects his true peak may be three to five years away.