Mercedes brought a major development package to the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia featuring sidepod changes that follow McLaren's recently abandoned design path. The Brackley team aims to complete a drivers' and constructors' championship double with updates focused on a different aerodynamic approach.
McLaren moved away from its previous sidepod concept at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last weekend, clearing the way for Mercedes to explore the design philosophy. The timing suggests Mercedes had been developing this direction in parallel while McLaren shifted their development focus elsewhere.