Mercedes plots 'decent step forward' with Malaysia upgrade
Photo: Race Pictures
15:01, 29 Sep
0 Comments
Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.
Mercedes hopes to make a 'decent step forward' with the updates it will introduce over the coming weeks.
Immediately after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the current Formula 1 tripleheader continues with the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, followed by the Singapore Grand Prix.
Mercedes currently has a firm grip on both the drivers' and constructors' standings and has already begun working on its 2027 challenger. However, more changes will follow from the Malaysian Grand Prix onwards.
| F1 Drivers' Standings | ||
| P1 | Kimi Antonelli | 302 |
| P2 | George Russell | 236 |
| P3 | Lewis Hamilton | 199 |
Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord discussed the team approach after George Russell's victory at the Baku City Circuit.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We plot a graph of, you know, fastest car and others relative to for qualifying and for the race after each event, and it builds a picture over the season.
Mercedes celebrates Russell's victory in Baku - Photo: Race Pictures
"And it's exactly that, we've been in the mix every single race. We haven't necessarily been quickest car at all of them, but we've been in the mix and on the podium and fighting for race wins or delivering race wins at pretty every event. So, I think the strength of the car is that it's a really strong all round package. It's good in fast corners. It's good in slow corners. It's well balanced. It looks after its tyres. It's well cooled, and it's got an incredible power unit at the heart of it. So it's just a question of, you know, keeping on pushing in all of those areas and giving the drivers a tool that they can feel confident to push to the limit.
"And then, yeah, you know, you're able to put seasons together like we've done," the Deputy Team Principal explained.
Mercedes' next update package
ADVERTISEMENT
The German team focused on constantly bringing updates to the W17 so far this year, and will have more over the coming weeks.
Lord continued: "There's been a lot of talk about upgrades and big packages, but we've kept bringing small things to the car event by event anyway. So that's also kept us moving forward, albeit not in quite as public or obvious a way as some of the more visible updates that others have brought.
"And then, you know, we've got a package coming in Malaysia and then a little bit more in the tripleheader afterwards that hopefully will, you know, bring us a a decent step forward in competitiveness as well."
Read also
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t miss GPblog in Google
Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.
Add as a preferred / source on GoogleRead more about:
latest news
Bahrain Grand Prix
Overview
Friday 02.10.26
Practice 1
04:30 AM
Practice 2
08:00 AM
Saturday 03.10.26
Practice 3
04:30 AM
Qualification
08:00 AM
Sunday 04.10.26
Race
07:00 AM
Friday 02.10.26
Practice 1
Fri 04:30 AM
Practice 2
Fri 08:00 AM
Saturday 03.10.26
Practice 3
Sat 04:30 AM
Qualification
Sat 08:00 AM
Sunday 04.10.26
Race
Sun 07:00 AM
Times are in your local timezone
Rumors
Popular on GPBlog
1
Mercedes has its 2027 lineup set and picks this third driver
3511 times read
2
After four years under Fred Vasseur, Ferrari is still no closer to the title
985 times read
3
F1 Today | Hamilton accused of ‘sulking’ at Ferrari as Norris makes amends with Colapinto
918 times read
4
Ferrari shares new statement amid rumours over Vasseur's future
862 times read
F1-stand 2026
Season
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | MercedesMER | 302 | |
2 | MercedesMER | 236 | |
3 | FerrariFER | 199 | |
4 | McLarenMCL | 186 | |
5 | FerrariFER | 179 | |
6 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 163 | |
7 | McLarenMCL | 120 | |
8 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 86 | |
9 | Racing BullsRCB | 59 | |
10 | AlpineALP | 41 |
Loading
