Still undefeated in 2026, Mercedes will introduce this weekend in Montreal its first major package of upgrades of the season, while McLaren is seriously closing the gap on the W17.
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After a three-week break, Formula 1 resumes this weekend in Canada with a first technical turning point expected at Mercedes. The German team has confirmed that it will introduce in Montreal its first major upgrade of the 2026 season on the W17.
So far, Mercedes has been dominantly leading the championship: four pole positions, four wins, and three consecutive victories for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, now the championship leader with a 20 point lead over George Russell.
But the last Grand Prix in Miami marked a change in dynamics. McLaren, thanks to a significant aerodynamic package brought to Florida, has clearly closed in on the current benchmark of the field. Thanks to a deeply revised RB22, Red Bull has also reduced its deficit.
Unlike these two teams (and unlike Ferrari, which optimized its car in Florida, as well as Alpine), Mercedes had deliberately postponed the introduction of its novelties in order to have a more substantial package in Montreal.
Toto Wolff also acknowledges that competitive pressure is starting to rise.
“Our competitors improved in Miami and we have to respond; seven Grands Prix in ten weekends before the summer break represent an opportunity to do so and to build momentum.”
“We are bringing our first upgrade package of the year to Montreal, but we know that performance only becomes real once demonstrated on track.”
The Mercedes director refuses to get carried away despite his team’s excellent start to the season.
“Even though we are already in mid-May, we are only at the fourth race of the season. The year is still long and, even if this weekend is important, it will not decide the final results.”
“We will stay balanced, continue to learn and execute each weekend as best as possible. We will not get carried away in good times and we will not sink in difficult periods; this applies as much to our drivers as to the rest of the team.”
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McLaren believes in a gradual comeback
Although Antonelli ultimately won the Miami Grand Prix, McLaren probably had its most convincing weekend of the season.
Lando Norris had secured the Sprint pole before leading a dominant one-two for the British team during the Saturday race. And above all, the deeply revised MCL40 seems to have significantly reduced the gap with Mercedes.
Andrea Stella confirmed that further upgrades are already in preparation.
“We are extremely satisfied with the weekend, very encouraged, not only because in a single weekend we scored more points than in the previous three races combined, but also because of the momentum we have created.”
“We know that more upgrades are still coming, coming in a way from the same development group, so we are optimistic that they will allow us to take further steps.”
The McLaren boss nevertheless believes that Mercedes still holds a significant raw advantage.
“I think Mercedes still has about two tenths advantage over everyone else. This was particularly visible today in the race and also in the Grand Prix qualifying.”
“I think during the first part of the Sprint weekend, for one reason or another, Mercedes did not express its full potential.”
“So I think Mercedes remains the best team. Probably the lack of many fast corners here makes this less visible than on other circuits. But I also think they have done a very good job optimizing what they had after learning from Sprint qualifying and the Sprint race.”
In Montreal, the technical hierarchy could therefore start to evolve more clearly. And for the first time this season, Mercedes really seems to have to defend its benchmark position.