Mercedes confirms the wait is almost over for W17’s next upgrades

It has been since the Canadian Grand Prix, where Mercedes introduced a major package featuring changes to the front wing, floor, sidepods and bodywork, as well as diffuser-related updates, that the Brackley-based team has brought a genuine development package.

Since then, direct rivals such as McLaren and, in particular, Ferrari have continued to push with their respective development programmes, with the Maranello outfit also recently introducing a second power unit for the season.

Despite this, and although the gap to the competition has narrowed compared to the start of the season, the standings and results on track have not been significantly affected. Kimi Antonelli reached his largest advantage in the most recent race in Madrid, securing his eighth win of the season and extending his lead over his teammate to 81 points.

Speaking on the NUNU Silver Arrows Radio Show podcast, Shovlin explained that Mercedes will not bring many new components to Baku, with the characteristics of the circuit placing greater emphasis on low drag and straight-line speed than outright downforce.

The Mercedes trackside engineering director also highlighted the importance of the circuit's street-track characteristics, particularly the need for strong low-speed performance and a car that remains stable over the bumps. Shovlin added that the team's main development package is expected to arrive from Malaysia onwards, with Mercedes hoping the upgrades will deliver a significant step forward.

Buoyed by its strong advantage in both championships, Mercedes is already beginning to look towards the future, with the development of its 2027 Formula 1 car now well underway despite the current season still having several races remaining. The Brackley-based team is therefore already balancing its focus between the current campaign and the next major chapter of its F1 project.

However, Mercedes is not completely shifting its attention away from the W17 just yet. The team still has improvements planned for its power unit, while further chassis developments are also expected as it continues to push despite leading both championships.

At the same time, preparations for 2027 have already been underway for some time, with team principal and CEO Toto Wolff confirming that work on the successor to the W17 began well before the summer.