After the Madrid GP (Spanish GP), the FIA randomly selected George Russell's Mercedes W17 from the top ten for additional physical checks and confirmed that every item inspected complied with the 2026 technical regulations. PlanetF1 and AOL reported that the document from FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer was published on 23 September, ahead of the Azerbaijan GP. Both Mercedes drivers had been investigated by the stewards in qualifying that weekend, which makes the clean bill of health after the race all the more notable.
What was examined
Bauer's document begins: "After the Madrid race, car 63 was randomly selected from the top ten for more extensive physical checks." The focus was the front suspension assembly, covering the following items.
- Front corner dampers
- Suspension fairings
- Suspension member geometry
- Suspension uprights and wheel hubs
- Sensor identification and connection to the FIA standard ECU
- Signal data logging
- Sensor homologation status
- FIA-F1-DOC-001 documentation
The conclusion: "All items inspected were found to comply with the 2026 F1 Technical Regulations." Russell finished fifth in that race, which was won by team-mate Kimi Antonelli from Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
What a random extra inspection is
Every car undergoes standard scrutineering after a race, but on top of that the FIA picks one top-ten finisher at random at each event and examines specific areas in more depth, down to strip-down level, in what it calls "more extensive physical checks". The FIA chooses the area, which changes from race to race, and the findings are published in a technical delegate's document, usually just before the next event. This year alone, Charles Leclerc's Ferrari SF-26 had its rear wing actuation and the associated sensors, wiring and standard ECU connections checked after the Chinese GP, while Lewis Hamilton's SF-26 had the hardware and control software of its rear brake system (relating to regulations C8 and C11) checked after the Barcelona GP. Both were found compliant. The Madrid inspection is part of the same procedure and does not mean Mercedes was under particular suspicion.
| Race | Car selected | Area inspected | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese GP (March) | Leclerc SF-26 (No. 16) | Rear wing actuation, sensors, wiring, ECU connection | Compliant |
| Barcelona GP (June) | Hamilton SF-26 (No. 44) | Rear brake system hardware and software | Compliant |
| Madrid GP (September) | Russell W17 (No. 63) | Front suspension, sensors and data logging | Compliant |
Both drivers were summoned after qualifying
Mercedes faced two investigations after qualifying on 12 September. Russell went down the escape road at Turn 5 to avoid an approaching car, then rejoined to the left of the bollard in the run-off area, contrary to the race director's instruction to go round it on the right. Russell explained that he came back early because he was worried about blocking the car behind, and the stewards issued a warning, saying he had "acted in good faith but could have followed the prescribed route". He kept sixth on the grid.
Antonelli also received a warning for failing to respect the delta time as he returned to the pits after his final Q3 lap. He put it down to energy management and a minor technical issue, but admitted he "could have done more". He kept second on the grid, 0.011s behind Norris. On the same day Gabriel Bortoleto was also warned over the delta, Leclerc was cleared after it emerged that his team had given him the wrong delta, with Ferrari reprimanded, and Carlos Sainz took a three-place grid drop for impeding Valtteri Bottas.
Russell's season
The car may be clean, but the results have been disappointing. Russell is second, 81 points behind Antonelli, and after Madrid he said: "I won't say it's over, but the chances of me being in this fight are extremely low," adding that he would focus on the constructors' title and on individual race results. Next up is the Azerbaijan GP, with practice this Thursday and the race on Saturday.
Sources
- PlanetF1 — FIA confirms Mercedes findings after extensive George Russell investigation (9/23)
- AOL — FIA release Mercedes statement after George Russell inspection before Azerbaijan GP (9/23)
- PlanetF1 — FIA launches double Mercedes investigation at Spanish Grand Prix (9/12)
- PlanetF1 — FIA confirms George Russell punishment after double Spanish GP investigation (9/12)
- PlanetF1 — FIA confirms Kimi Antonelli punishment after double Spanish GP investigation (9/12)
- RaceFans — Sainz penalised, Antonelli, Russell, Leclerc and Bortoleto avoid grid drops (9/12)
- PlanetF1 — FIA confirms Lewis Hamilton findings after extensive Ferrari investigation (6/25)
- GPFans — FIA confirm extensive Ferrari inspection ahead of Japanese Grand Prix (3/26)