Mercedes has verified that its upcoming major Formula 1 car development package is set to debut at the next grand prix in Malaysia, with the team aiming to challenge for pole position once again.
Although its previous significant update package was introduced back in Montreal in May, the Silver Arrows continue to dominate the 2026 championship standings, holding a commanding 145-point lead over runner-up Ferrari.
Rather than bringing major overhauls, Mercedes has chosen to implement small, track-specific modifications, in stark contrast to their closest rivals McLaren and Ferrari, who have pursued far more aggressive development paths.
Consequently, while the German squad claimed victory in the initial six races, they have secured only four wins out of the subsequent eight, with McLaren and Ferrari narrowing the performance gap by claiming two victories apiece during this period.
Nonetheless, the Brackley-based team aims to assert its supremacy once more during the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend from October 2 to 4, which follows the Baku round and marks the nation’s return to the Formula 1 calendar in place of Bahrain.
Discussing the situation on the Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show podcast, trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin explained: “We do not have many new components scheduled for Baku, but that particular track is actually more dependent on aerodynamic drag rather than downforce.
“As the car performed well at Monza, we are optimistic about its prospects in Baku. However, having strong straight-line speed is crucial there.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes, James Allison, Mercedes, Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
“Nonetheless, Baku demands other characteristics, such as the ability to handle low-speed sections typical of a street circuit—almost reminiscent of Monaco—while ensuring maximum tire contact with the asphalt.
“Regarding the modifications, they are slated to arrive from the Malaysia round onward, and we anticipate making a significant step forward.
“While I do not expect us to be miles ahead of the competition, I hope this puts us back in a scenario where we head into qualifying confident that we are in the running for the top spot.”
Even though Mercedes took victory in the previous two rounds at Monza and Madrid thanks to a dominant display from Kimi Antonelli, the team has not secured a pole position since the Italian driver topped the timesheets at Spa back in July.
This represents a four-race drought, during which McLaren’s Lando Norris secured three pole positions—a stark contrast to the beginning of the 2026 campaign when the German team claimed pole position for the first ten consecutive races.
“At the start of the year, we usually arrived at the track believing that with a strong performance, our car was capable of taking pole,” Shovlin remarked.
“We expected to challenge for victories. Currently, however, the gap between first and sixth place is a mere tenth or two, making outcomes hard to anticipate, particularly given how distinct a venue Monza is.
“It demands a highly efficient, low-drag car, whereas a fresh track like Madrid is completely different. Ultimately, our main focus is on extracting maximum performance from our package, and if that yields a win, it’s a fantastic bonus.”
