Mercedes has reasserted its dominance in the 2026 season by introducing a major upgrade package for the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Brackley-based team has brought a heavily revised floor and new sidepods, a clear signal that they intend to stay ahead in the championship battle.
Since the start of the season, the W17 has been the benchmark. However, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull have occasionally made life difficult. Although none has mounted a consistent challenge, Mercedes knows that development is key to maintaining their edge.
Focus on Floor and Sidepods
The floor changes touch on the floor board, leading edge, rear corner, and the main underbody area, including the diffuser zone. Additionally, the rear half of the sidepod bodywork has been significantly revised. Mercedes has moved away from the undercut geometry used since the start of the season, switching to a ramped profile. This shift indicates a change in approach to flow management at the rear of the car.
With the old design, the undercut prioritised inwash flow around the Coke bottle section. Now, a ramp on the top surface of the sidepod pulls flow downwards, enhancing downwash towards the top of the diffuser. The goal is clear: to increase the pressure differential between the top surface and the volume inside the diffuser, resulting in more downforce.
Details of Floor Board Changes
The floor board changes are also striking. The three horizontal elements have been reworked, with the upper slat now featuring a lower leading edge. Behind it, two vertical pieces have been added to provide better flow guidance from the front tyre wake. These help direct flow outwards, while the horizontal elements continue to flick airflow upwards to clear the wake away from the car.
Mercedes has also revised the rear suspension fairings and the winglets within the rear wheel drums to complement the floor and sidepod changes. All of this aims to improve rear-end downforce, a critical area at circuits like Bahrain that demand traction and stability.
This is Mercedes' first large-scale update package since the Canadian Grand Prix in May. The team opted to delay its car build ahead of 2026 to implement as many winter learnings as possible. Now, with the Bahrain race, they are ready to reap the rewards.
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