{
  "id": 11665584,
  "title": "Upgrades backfire as Wolff admits Mercedes going backwards",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/upgrades-backfire-as-wolff-admits-mercedes-going-backwards-11665584",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-03T10:44:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/motor-sports/2026/10/1546898/upgrades-backfire-wolff-admits-mercedes-going-backwards"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia saw Mercedes' upgrade package flop during qualifying, leaving team boss Toto Wolff baffled. Red Bull's Max Verstappen secured pole position, marking his first victory of the season with a car devoid of a Mercedes engine, while Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also claimed a front-row spot. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli managed only fourth-fastest in qualifying but will move up to third after Red Bull's Isack Hadjar received a five-place grid penalty. George Russell, Antonelli's teammate, qualified eighth and will start seventh on the grid. Wolff admitted they were caught off guard by the car's behavior on Friday and cited the hot tarmac conditions as a factor. Mercedes struggled with drag and understeer in the low-speed sections, falling behind Red Bull. Antonelli and Russell seemed disheartened by the results, but Mercedes remains hopeful for improvement in the race.",
  "summary": "SEPANG: Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was left scratching his head after his team’s upgrade package fell flat in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on Saturday, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claiming his first pole position of the season.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Upgrades backfire as Wolff admits Mercedes going backwards",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/upgrades-backfire-as-wolff-admits-mercedes-going-backwards",
        "published": "2026-10-03T10:24:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Upgrades backfire as Wolff admits Mercedes going backwards",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/upgrades-backfire-as-wolff-admits-mercedes-going-backwards-11665581",
        "published": "2026-10-03T10:52:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}