Mercedes’ pre-season testing in Bahrain wrapped up on Friday with a mix of promise and caution, as both Kimi Antonelli and George Russell flagged issues that could shape the team’s fortunes heading into the 2026 season.
While the Silver Arrows have showcased strong pace, the final day revealed the technical gremlins that still lurk beneath the surface.
Antonelli encountered a hiccup during the morning session when his car stopped on track, a sight that sent ripples of concern through the Brackley squad’s garage. However, the young Italian showed a veteran’s composure when addressing the reliability hiccup.
According to Antonelli, the team hasn't just found the ghost in the machine – they’ve already started the exorcism.
"Yeah, it hasn't been the smoothest of testing for me here in Bahrain, but that's what testing is," the 19-year-old told the gathered media.
"It's all about testing, and it's really important to fix it now and to experience these issues now, to then be fine for the rest of the season.
“So I think overall... The team has been looking into it and already found the issue and also the way to fix it. So hopefully we'll be fine for Australia."
Despite the stoppage, Antonelli’s confidence in the W17’s core DNA remains unshaken. He noted that the car is providing "good feelings" following extensive setup work, though he was quick to acknowledge that the Silver Arrows aren't alone at the summit.
"But other than that, the car has felt pretty good. To be fair, we've done a lot of setup work, and the car is giving good feelings," he added.
"And of course, the other top teams look pretty good as well. Ferrari looked very strong this morning, but also McLaren yesterday looked strong, and Red Bull as well. So I think the top four are pretty close together and it's going to be a tight fight."
Russell’s Starting Line Nightmare
While Antonelli is worried about the car stopping, George Russell is preoccupied with the terrifying prospect of it not starting – at least, not correctly.
Despite Mercedes being touted as a title favorite with a benchmark power unit for the new 2026 regulations, Russell’s practice starts have been nothing short of a disaster.
The 28-year-old nearly lost control of the W17 on one occasion, lighting up the rear wheels in a chaotic display of wheelspin that left him reeling. Russell described his attempts to launch the new car as the low point of his professional career.
“I think we’ve got a lot of potential beneath us,” the Briton admitted. “But to win a race, you’ve also got to get off the line quite well. I think the two starts I’ve made this week worse than my worst ever start in Formula 1.”
The "tallest hurdle" for Mercedes right now isn't aerodynamic efficiency or peak horsepower; it’s the basic mechanics of the standing start.
Russell conceded that while the car is a rocket ship in clean air, the launch "gremlin" could render that speed irrelevant if they are swallowed by the pack before the first corner.
“At this stage, I don’t think it matters how quick you are, the thing that’s going to trip you up is going to be that tallest hurdle, and that’s what we’re trying to get our heads around right now," Russell explained.
"And yeah, we’re stumbling on some at the moment.”
As the freight crates are packed for Melbourne, the narrative at Mercedes is clear: they have the silver bullet, but they’re still trying to figure out how to fire it without the gun exploding in their hands.
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