What happened: Andrew Shovlin said Mercedes plans its next major Formula 1 upgrade for the 2-4 October Malaysian Grand Prix, with little new expected for Baku. The team has not started on pole since Kimi Antonelli qualified first at Spa in July after opening 2026 with 10 straight poles. Mercedes still won the last two races at Monza and Madring, but Ferrari and McLaren have cut into its qualifying edge.

Why it matters: A stronger Saturday package would give Mercedes more control over race strategy as Ferrari and McLaren keep the front of the grid tighter. The championship margin is still sizable for Mercedes, but the team is now working in weekends where first through sixth can be separated by only a couple of tenths.

What to watch: Baku is the next test, but the larger read will come when the Malaysia package arrives on 2-4 October. The key question is whether Mercedes can restore one-lap pace without giving away the race form that carried it through Monza and Madring.