Mercedes has finally made its move in the 2026 Formula 1 development race, introducing an extensive W17 upgrade package at Sepang more than four months after its previous major update at the Canadian Grand Prix. The package includes changes to the floor, bodywork, diffuser and rear-end aerodynamics, with some of the new solutions taking inspiration from concepts already seen on Ferrari’s SF-26.
The Ferrari influence is particularly visible in the floor design. The Maranello team had already introduced concepts that later appeared on McLaren’s Budapest upgrade package, and Mercedes has now adopted a similar direction as part of a broader attempt to unlock more performance from the W17.
Mercedes W17 gets a Ferrari-inspired double-entry floor
The most important change on the Mercedes in Malaysia is relatively discreet visually but significant aerodynamically. The technical department led by James Allison has revised the floor inlet section, where a new horizontal element now connects the flow conditioners.
Ferrari first introduced a similar geometry during pre-season testing in Bahrain before continuing to develop the concept during the season. McLaren subsequently adopted a related solution with its upgrades in Hungary, and Mercedes has now moved in the same direction.
The horizontal element is designed to direct airflow downwards and outwards. In doing so, it also helps move turbulence generated by the front wheels away from the floor, improving the quality of the airflow reaching the underbody and contributing to overall aerodynamic load.
The idea offers another example of how technical concepts can spread across the grid once rival teams identify a potentially useful solution. Comparisons between Ferrari and its competitors can also be explored through the ScuderiaFans Ferrari vs F1 Rivals statistics.
Mercedes also changes the floor edges and flow-conditioning devices
The work on the W17 floor extends beyond the new inlet geometry. Mercedes has also revised the cascade of horizontal elements positioned alongside the entrance section and added a pair of vertical bargeboard-style elements.
The new shapes are intended to reduce airflow separation from the surfaces in the most critical conditions. That should broaden the operating window of the aerodynamic package and, in turn, give the driver greater confidence when the car moves through different ride-height, yaw and steering conditions.
A different floor-edge design is also visible in the same area. That change influences the way airflow is extracted from underneath the car, linking the front section of the floor with the aerodynamic behaviour further downstream.
The changes underline how Mercedes has approached the Sepang package as an integrated development rather than a collection of isolated parts. More Formula 1 technical developments involving Ferrari concepts and rival solutions can be followed in the Ferrari technical analysis section.
Mercedes introduces more aggressively downwashed sidepods
The most visually obvious change to the W17 in Malaysia concerns the bodywork. Mercedes has developed a more pronounced downwash sidepod layout, with the flanks sloping downwards to guide airflow from the upper surfaces towards the rear of the car.
From above, the rear section of the bodywork has also been narrowed significantly. The resulting tighter profile helps draw external air towards the area around the gearbox, where it can interact with the rear aerodynamic surfaces.
Mercedes has therefore followed a different development philosophy from McLaren. With its Baku package, McLaren created a more heavily undercut sidepod arrangement while still retaining a downward slope, but without extending the bodywork all the way towards the floor in the same manner.
Rear suspension and diffuser revised to work with the new airflow structure
Mercedes has also reworked the aerodynamics around the entire rear of the W17 to make better use of the new airflow structure generated by the revised bodywork and floor.
The rear suspension arms now feature new fairings, while the diffuser has also been modified. Further back, the rear wheel assemblies incorporate a new cascade of flaps designed both to increase local aerodynamic load and to interact more effectively with the diffuser.
That interaction is aimed at improving airflow extraction underneath the car. The stronger and more controlled the extraction process becomes, the more effectively the floor can contribute to the car’s overall downforce generation.
Mercedes has also revised the openings in the rear section of the floor immediately ahead of the rear wheels, although without fundamentally changing the previous geometry. The aim is to energise the airflow underneath the car while simultaneously controlling the vortices generated close to the tyre contact patch.
Why Mercedes has waited months for this W17 upgrade
The package introduced at Sepang is the result of several months of development. Mercedes had not brought a major update since the Canadian Grand Prix, having decided to pause the introduction of new parts for a period after enjoying a competitive advantage earlier in the season.
With less available margin under the budget cap than some of its rivals, the Brackley team chose to use that period to work extensively in the wind tunnel. Rather than introducing separate components one at a time, Mercedes developed a more complete package intended to function as a coordinated aerodynamic system.
The floor, bodywork and diffuser changes are therefore closely connected. Each component affects the performance of the others, meaning the real value of the update package will depend on how effectively the entire airflow structure works together on track.
The wider competitive context around the W17 can also be explored through the analysis of Mercedes’ W17 performance during the 2026 season.
Mercedes faces an important test of the W17 concept
Expectations surrounding the Sepang upgrade package are inevitably high. Beyond the immediate performance gain, the new parts could reveal how much development potential remains in the W17’s underlying concept.
If Mercedes fails to make a significant step, it could suggest that the current architecture is approaching its maximum potential. In that scenario, the team could be pushed towards considering a different direction for 2027 rather than continuing to extract smaller gains from the same basic concept.
For now, however, the pressure is on Mercedes’ rivals. Their progress has forced the Brackley team to continue investing in the development of the W17, and the Sepang package represents its most substantial technical response in several months.
With the new floor, revised sidepods and extensive rear-end changes all designed to work together, the Malaysian weekend should provide the first meaningful indication of whether Mercedes has found another significant step with the W17. Full timings and session information for the weekend are available in the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang schedule and circuit guide.
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