What happened: Mercedes added another marker to its late-season rise by winning the Spanish Grand Prix at Madring. The team also logged the race's fastest pit stop at 2.14 seconds, pairing clean execution with front-running pace.

Why it matters: That matters because Mercedes is no longer scrambling to recover ground; it carries a 145-point cushion in the constructors' standings into the next round. Strong weekends now reinforce its control of the title race as much as they answer doubts about the comeback.

What to watch: Malaysia is next, where Mercedes has already targeted an upgrade package. Another clean weekend there would strengthen the team's grip on the championship chase.