Juan Pablo Montoya has shared an intriguing view on Mercedes' strategy for the remainder of the 2026 season. According to the former F1 driver from Colombia, the German manufacturer is likely to introduce its next major upgrade package at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, rather than at Zandvoort or Monza. This could be a sign that Mercedes is already thinking about securing this year's titles while also keeping an eye on 2027.
This season, McLaren has emerged as a rising force. Lando Norris finally broke his duck with his first win of the year at the Hungarian Grand Prix, just before the summer break. The MCL40 project was initially around three months behind its rivals, but now they are showing real pace.
McLaren brought a partial upgrade to Hungary and will complete it at Zandvoort and Baku. After Azerbaijan, Norris and Oscar Piastri will have the final version of the car to chase Andrea Kimi Antonelli at the top of the standings. This is clearly heating up the competition.
Mercedes, for its part, brought its first major upgrade in Canada. Another package is expected to help them lock in championship hopes. But Montoya believes the right time is not Zandvoort, but Madrid.
“Mercedes hasn't brought a big upgrade yet, while other teams have. But they are still competitive. That's a fact that should worry rivals,” Montoya told Betpack. “The longer they delay these upgrades, the more resources and budget they can shift to next year's car.”
According to Montoya, Zandvoort will be a stage for a very fast McLaren, a competitive Red Bull especially with Max Verstappen at home, and a strong Ferrari. “The standings are getting tighter, maybe too tight for Mercedes' comfort. Their only way to get ahead is to bring that big upgrade,” he added.
“At Zandvoort, Mercedes might struggle. Then there's Monza, which is not suited for such upgrades. I suspect they will wait until Madrid to really launch big changes. They want to see how they perform at Zandvoort first, because it's not an easy race for them,” Montoya concluded.
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