Mercedes Sepang upgrade backfires as W17 loses straight-line speed

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff admitted that the team's major Sepang upgrade package backfired, leaving the W17 car slower rather than faster during qualifying. Despite expecting a gain of around three tenths of a second, Wolff revealed the team was roughly six tenths off the pace as Max Verstappen secured pole position.

Wolff expressed pessimism for the race, highlighting significant straight-line speed losses and low-speed turning issues. While George Russell acknowledged lap times failed to match simulation data, Kimi Antonelli suggested awaiting the upcoming Singapore event before fully judging the package.