Mercedes has finally unveiled its first major development package since the Canadian Grand Prix in May. The Silver Arrows have brought a heavily revised floor and sidepods to the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, aiming to tighten their grip on both 2026 championships.
The W17 has been the benchmark in the early part of the season, but not without a fight. Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull have occasionally made life difficult, though none could sustain a consistent challenge to Mercedes' dominance. That awareness of competition is exactly why Mercedes refuses to rest on its laurels.
The floor changes encompass the floor board, leading edge, rear corner, and the main underbody area including the diffuser. The rear half of the sidepod bodywork has also received significant attention. Mercedes has moved away from the undercut sidepod geometry used since the start of the season, switching to a more aggressive ramped profile. The rear suspension fairings and winglets within the rear wheel drums have been reworked to maximise rear-end downforce.
This is the first large-scale package since Canada, and the decision to delay the 2026 car build to implement as many winter developments as possible gave the W17 a head start. The trade-off was fewer new parts in the early rounds. Now Mercedes is reaping the rewards of its long-term strategy.
"We think it's a good step, purely because it's been so long since we last brought an upgrade," said George Russell, who last won in Baku and reduced the gap to Kimi Antonelli to 66 points in the drivers' standings. "It's quite abnormal to have an upgrade back in May and then only again almost in October. So as an individual upgrade step, it's large, but in a normal season it's just a normal trajectory from a May to an October upgrade package."
Russell hopes this package will propel Mercedes back to the front on circuits that have been challenging over the last six races. Tracks like Bahrain demand high aerodynamic efficiency and stability in slow corners, areas where the W17 previously struggled.
Interestingly, Mercedes will run a teal and black livery in Malaysia, honouring title partner Petronas, Malaysia's national oil company and the official fuel supplier to all Mercedes-powered teams. This visual touch adds a special nuance and underscores the team's close ties with Malaysia.
With rivals constantly chasing, Mercedes' development move could dictate the championship direction. If the package works as hoped, the Silver Arrows might be uncatchable. But if it fails, the battle towards the season's end could shift dramatically.
Baca Juga
Franco Colapinto mendapat penalti grid tambahan di F1 Bahrain GP setelah ganti mesin V6 Mercedes. Total penalti 15 posisi, start dari belakang.
Franco Colapinto menerima penalti grid tambahan di F1 Bahrain GP setelah pakai mesin baru. Total turun 15 posisi, Alpine kian tertekan di klasemen.
Mercedes perkenalkan lantai dan sidepod baru untuk F1 Bahrain 2026. Upgrade besar pertama sejak Kanada, bidik downforce dan dominasi.
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