Overview
- Trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin confirmed Mercedes will not divert resources for a late-season update, concentrating people and wind‑tunnel time on the 2026 car and power unit.
- The strategy is shaped by the W13’s failed ‘zero‑pod’ concept in 2022, when porpoising, overly stiff suspension and a floor that only worked at very low ride heights forced repeated concept resets.
- Mercedes says it has developed tools to spot aero and ride‑related issues earlier, yet stresses simulations have limits and true behavior will only be verified on track.
- Shovlin warns the 2026 aerodynamic rules contain potential pitfalls as teams balance downforce against drag with evolving hybrid power outputs, even if a return of severe bouncing is considered unlikely.
- While rivals are also investing heavily for 2026, Mercedes continues to chase the constructors’ runner‑up spot through setup gains rather than new parts, a stance echoed by Pirelli’s caution that current simulations do not reveal next year’s competitive order.