According to Motorsport.com Italia, Mercedes is about to stretch its legs even further with a brand-new update package in Sepang that promises a massive lap-time gain. The black-and-silver machine has continued winning races despite running the same hardware since Canada ten grands prix ago, proving the chassis and aerodynamics are just as formidable as the power unit.
Now, the Brackley squad has introduced a series of developments for the event in Malaysia, which Kimi Antonelli states should translate to a stunning three tenths of a second per lap. If the team's simulations translate directly to the asphalt, the German manufacturer is primed to run away from the field entirely, and that is even before the arrival of the ADUO engine scheduled for Austin two races down the line.
The most striking modification on the W17 is an aggressively redesigned sidepod layout. The bodywork immediately behind the radiator inlets drops steeply toward the floor edge to drastically reduce drag. While a small initial portion of the sidepod remains to manage front-wheel turbulence, the team has leaned back into concepts reminiscent of the W11 and W12 eras, echoing elements of the much-maligned zero-pods of the past.
Although 2026 regulations discourage extreme aerodynamic geometries, the underlying philosophy nurtured by Mike Elliott has clearly left an imprint at Brackley. This revamped sidepod work pairs with a thoroughly revised engine cover tailored specifically for extreme cooling. Alongside upper bodywork gills, a vertical cooling louver grid has appeared to cope with the searing temperatures and record humidity of Sepang, while simultaneously protecting the reliability of the M17 E Performance power unit and its sensitive battery cooling.
Aerodynamicists also trimmed the rear section of the engine cover to boost overall rear-end efficiency alongside redesigned carbon covers for the rear suspension arms. Rounding out the visible updates is a new bargeboard featuring a more prominent vertical flap with a two-element blowing slot designed to boost local downforce and enhance outwash, complemented by an expanded floor edge designed to feed more airflow directly into the diffuser.
