Mercedes went five months without touching the W17 and still built a 160-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors' championship. Six wins in ten races will do that. So when the team finally rolled out a serious upgrade package at Sepang for the Bahrain Grand Prix, the question isn't about whether it will be fast, it's how fast.
This upgrade package is the first serious change Mercedes has made to its car since the Canadian Grand Prix in May, and it touches almost every aerodynamic surface of the machine. It consists of seven components spread over the floor, sidepods, rear bodywork and rear suspension. It's a substantial package that Mercedes is hoping can tide it over for the remainder of the season.
