Toto Wolff has admitted his surprise at Mercedes’ major upgrade package for the Bahrain Grand Prix having appeared to take the team backwards, following an underwhelming qualifying display.
Despite dominating the 2026 season, Mercedes have brought far fewer upgrades than their rivals at the front of the grid, which meant anticipation had built around the addition of their first major package since May.
The Silver Arrows arrived in Malaysia, which is hosting the event due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, off the back of three successive race victories, and most expected that streak to continue with the help of the upgrades.
Instead, Drivers’ Championship leader Kimi Antonelli could only manage fourth, while his team-mate George Russell was eighth as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed a dominant pole. Both Mercedes drivers will move up a place on the grid as a result of third-placed Isack Hadjar having to serve a grid penalty.
Wolff told Sky Sports F1: “Very difficult to understand. We have been a little bit caught out on Friday with some car behaviour that we didn’t see all year, but then you can say it’s very hot and the tarmac is different to all the (other) tracks.
Toto Wolff explains Mercedes issues after big upgrade package at the Bahrain GP in Malaysia
“It looked really good this morning (in final practice). We seemed to have, at least with Kimi, made a step in understanding.
“And then, qualifying was a little bit back to what we saw before, just no performance.
“It looks like we are very draggy, because it’s the first time that we are losing a lot of time on the straights, especially to Max.
“And then through the low-speed, we are not able to turn the car. There’s just too much understeer. So, overall, things we haven’t seen this year.”
Verstappen’s first pole of the season was secured by an emphatic margin, with Antonelli half a second behind and Russell a further couple of tenths back.
SkyPad analysis of Max Verstappen’s first pole position in 2026
While the extreme heat and track surface at the Sepang International Circuit make for unique conditions, Wolff was still alarmed by the timesheet.
“Something else is going on, and we have to understand,” he added. “This is now working through the data and putting our heads together, because we still believe that the upgrade works. We just need to understand why not here.
“It’s so different (in Malaysia), but nevertheless, you’re expecting three tenths to kick in, and it looks like three-four-five tenths backwards.
“It’s odd, but I guess we will find a solution.”
‘Affecting us more than others’
Russell arrived in Malaysia full of confidence after producing the strongest weekend of the season to claim victory in Azerbaijan, but has been unable to reproduce that form.
The Brit’s deficit to Antonelli was made more disappointing by the fact he had two runs to his team-mate’s one in the final part of qualifying, after a track limits in Q2 forced the Italian to use up an extra set of fresh tyres.
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli react to Mercedes’ qualifying at Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Russell told Sky Sports F1: “From the first practice we seemed to be ok, but we’ve just not really made any improvements since.
“It’s a very demanding circuit on the tyres, the tarmac is all broke up, it’s extremely rough, it’s so hot out there and the tyres are going through hell.
“And, for whatever reason, it seems to be affecting us far more than others.”
Antonelli was disappointed with his Q2 error but felt the incident had only potentially cost him one position on the grid given he felt Verstappen was out of reach, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton took second.
Watch the thrilling end to qualifying at the Bahrain GP in Malaysia!
Antonelli told Sky Sports F1: “It’s a shame for the mistake, but all in all, I think with a clean qualifying without the track limit, maybe P2, P3 on the road would have been possible, because obviously with only one set in Q3 it’s never easy, especially with the track cooling down.
“But Max did an incredible job and was very quick. And also Ferrari, they made a huge a step compared to FP3.
“All in all, we have to be happy because it could have been much worse. We’ll focus on tomorrow.”
Sky Sports F1’s live schedule Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Relive the last time a Grand Prix was held in Malaysia back in 2017
Sunday October 4
6.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Bahrain GP build-up*
8am: THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX*
10am: Chequered Flag: Bahrain GP reaction*
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Malaysia for the first time since 2017 as it hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit – watch Sunday’s race at 8am (build-up from 6.30am), live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
