Mercedes prioritise the team as Russell and Antonelli clash on F1’s return to Sepang

Mercedes prepared a major upgrade package and managed drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli at the Sepang circuit on Friday as Formula One returned to Malaysia for the race marketed as the "Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia".

The Sepang event is the first Grand Prix held in Malaysia since 2017 and is staging a one-off replacement for the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was cancelled earlier this year because of the war in the Middle East. The race carries Bahraini backing, a Bahrain GP trophy and Bahraini-themed activities at the circuit despite taking place in Malaysia, and the venue is popular with drivers even as high temperatures and humidity create a significant physical challenge.

Antonelli leads Mercedes team-mate George Russell by 66 points with eight rounds remaining; the 20-year-old is in only his second season in F1. At the previous round in Baku Russell outscored Antonelli by 15 points after a weekend in which the British driver was dominant, while Antonelli described Baku as his “worst” weekend after a costly qualifying error left him fifth and said he would seek to re-establish the order in Malaysia. Russell said he felt a confidence and ease with the car that he has not enjoyed all season, a platform from which he aims to mount a late title tilt at Antonelli.

Mercedes say they will continue to allow their current pedallers to race one another while insisting the team remains the priority. "Does it [Russell finding form] change the dynamic? I think from the overarching philosopher’s standpoint, no," said team principal Toto Wolff earlier this week. "Because we want to give both drivers equal opportunity and to go for a championship. But the team comes first. That has always been the Mercedes philosophy."

The team arrived in Sepang with their second major development package of the season, introducing changes to the floor, rear suspension and rear bodywork. With the first year of new regulations still bedding in, Mercedes cautioned there is no guarantee the parts will immediately produce lap-time gains, and the combination of the circuit’s heat and an abrasive, high-degradation surface means the upgrades will require fine-tuning.

Tyre degradation is expected to be a defining factor, presenting strategists with a finely balanced call between two or potentially three pit stops. In Friday’s practice sessions Mercedes struggled to find the ideal set-up and operating window for the new components, with Russell and Antonelli seventh and eighth respectively in the second session; the team hopes to extract more pace on Saturday.

Red Bull arrived with momentum after an upgrade in Baku and Max Verstappen described the start in Sepang as "positive" and a "decent start". Verstappen, the four-time champion, has yet to win this year and, while the title is gone, he remains fiercely competitive and determined to take the flag. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped second practice, taking P1 from Verstappen’s team-mate Isack Hadjar by a tenth, while Verstappen was fourth and did not set a time during a qualifying simulation on soft tyres.

With eight rounds remaining, Antonelli’s 66-point advantage over Russell is the standing they bring into this one-off Sepang round, where both Mercedes drivers and their rivals will contest the next race of the season.