Mercedes is set to bring a series of updates to the W17 in Montreal, aiming to extend its advantage over the competition
In the first four rounds of the season, Mercedes has set the pace in the championship, showing clear technical superiority over its rivals. Now, with the standings favouring the Brackley-based team and Kimi Antonelli and George Russell leading the Drivers’ Championship, as well as the team firmly at the top of the Constructors’ standings, the Silver Arrows are preparing to head to Montreal with further updates aimed at addressing the few weaknesses identified so far.
The updates in Canada
According to reports from Motorsport.com, Mercedes will bring an important aerodynamic upgrade package to the Canadian Grand Prix, developed over the past few weeks in Brackley. The changes will focus in particular on the front end of the car, with a revised front wing featuring updated components, as well as a new airflow concept that will also involve the floor of the car.
According to initial estimates, the upgrades planned for the Canadian weekend could deliver Mercedes a gain of around three-tenths of a second per lap. But that is not all. The team has also reportedly worked on reducing the car’s weight, including lightening the gearbox casing and other targeted measures, with the aim of moving closer to the minimum regulatory weight limit.
Another key topic within Mercedes is race starts, which have so far been the main weakness of an otherwise near-flawless W17 at the start of the season. On several occasions, from Melbourne to Miami, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell have lost ground at the start, at least partially undoing what they had achieved in qualifying.
For this reason, the team has also reportedly worked on the car’s electronics to improve initial acceleration and make the start procedures more effective. In Montreal, Mercedes will therefore aim to extend its lead in the standings further, fending off attempts from its rivals to close the gap.
Photos: Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
