Chandhok warns Mercedes' aero upgrade has failed to unlock pace as title lead narrows

Mercedes’ aerodynamic upgrade package has failed to produce the performance step the team was hoping for, according to former Formula 1 driver and pundit Karun Chandhok, who warned the Brackley outfit should be worried after back-to-back underwhelming results in Malaysia and Singapore.

Speaking after the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay Street Circuit, Chandhok said the weekend was not “overwhelmingly positive” for Mercedes. Kimi Antonelli, running the updated W17 specification, finished third, while George Russell — starting 19th following grid penalties for power unit component changes — recovered to ninth using the older-spec car.

The contrast between the two cars offered a direct comparison, and Chandhok suggested the data did not flatter the new parts. “On the Friday, the downgraded car was quicker with George,” he noted. “Has the aero upgrade delivered a big chunk of performance? I think you’d have to say probably not, not in Malaysia nor in Singapore. So, I think they’ll be a bit concerned.”

Chandhok also pointed out that Russell, despite his difficult weekend — which included a crash in the sprint — was not significantly slower than Antonelli in qualifying. “He said he was just trying to get a safe run through quali and do a sensible job. He wasn’t that far off Kimi, to be honest,” Chandhok said.

The stalled development comes as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has won the last two grands prix, applying pressure on a Mercedes team that still holds a commanding position in both championships. Antonelli leads the drivers’ standings with 340 points, ahead of Russell on 238 and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton on 229. In the constructors’ championship, Mercedes sits top with 578 points, with Ferrari second on 444 and McLaren third on 339.

While the championship margins remain substantial, Chandhok’s assessment raises questions about whether Mercedes can continue to hold off its rivals if the upgrade trajectory does not improve before the season’s final rounds.