Mercedes struggled to understand their latest update package at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia despite introducing a revised floor and sidepod configuration. The team declared satisfaction with the upgrade's performance in higher-speed corners, but the W17 overall did not gel with Sepang's circuit characteristics, particularly around slower corners.
Deputy team principal Bradley Lord explained that drivers were forced to use unusual throttle inputs in slow corners to make the car respond properly. The combination of the update package, track temperature, and Sepang's surface created an interaction that left the car outside its usual operating window, exacerbating tire temperature challenges.
The track surface presented additional challenges beyond tire interaction, with aerodynamic effects also playing a role. The roughness of Sepang affects airflow underneath the car differently than smoother circuits, potentially causing flow separation and boundary layer changes that teams struggle to predict in simulations.