F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Mercedes offered drivers ‘coin toss’ to assign updated front-wing

X (Twitter)X (Twitter)
FacebookFacebook
WhatsappWhatsapp

George Russell has revealed that Mercedes suggested that a “coin toss” decide which driver would receive the updated front wing that was introduced by the team ahead of last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.

Unfortunately, Mercedes only had a single example of the new-spec element, which ultimately landed on Russell’s W15 after Lewis Hamilton opted out of the rather unconventional method of attribution.

The lighthearted approach suggests that the performance difference between the new and older front wings was likely to be marginal, making the decision less critical.

But Hamilton, ever the veteran, who had tested the new wing in the simulator, felt that using the aero element would carry an amount of risk as any damage to the updated component in qualifying would signify a pitlane start.

Russell on the other hand was comfortable taking a chance on the new wing.

Read also:

“There was one front wing this weekend and it was agreed on Tuesday that we’d do a coin toss and see who got it,” Russell told the Channel 4 F1 broadcast team.

“Lewis said he’d tried it on the sim and was happy for me to use it this weekend, because it doesn’t go without risk.

“If we made a mistake in qualifying and damaged it, obviously that’s one front wing that we won’t ever be able to use again and you’d have to start from the pit lane.

“I was happy to take that risk using it and I thought it was a belated birthday present he gave me, saying I could use it.”

In the end, Russell outqualified Hamilton in Saturday’s shootout, a result the seven-time world champion had predicted.

He was nevertheless satisfied with the pace of Mercedes’ development as the Brackley squad pushes to catch up with its front-running rivals.

“I’m really so happy to see the team’s bringing upgrades and looking forward, you know the last three races we’ve had upgrades,” Hamilton said.

“This weekend, George’s one was a positive as well so I’ll get that next week and hopefully over the next few races we have some more and we can continue to push and try and close that gap.”

Mercedes currently sits fourth in Formula 1’s Constructors’ standings after eight races, 88 points behind third-placed team McLaren.

In the Drivers’ championship, Hamilton lies 8th, 12 points adrift from Russel in P7.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Verstappen positive, but RB21 ‘can’t be worse than last year’

After a 2024 season that saw Red Bull stumble from their perch atop the Formula…

2 hours ago

Hamilton getting there, ‘slowly bonding’ with Ferrari SF-25

Lewis Hamilton is slowly settling into life in red, and it seems the seven-time champ…

3 hours ago

Banter in Bahrain: Max and Lando turn presser into comedy gold

Bahrain’s drivers press conference on Thursday crackled with an energy that could only be described…

3 hours ago

Bahrain Test: Day 2 in pictures

The grind continued at the Bahrain International Circuit on Thursday, and it was a deepening…

4 hours ago

Sainz edges Hamilton on Day 2 of Bahrain test

Carlos Sainz delivered a commanding performance on the second day of pre-season testing on Thursday…

5 hours ago

Wolff cautions against premature V10 talk, praises F1’s hybrid future

As Formula 1 gears up for a transformative 2026 season with new power unit regulations,…

6 hours ago