Mercedes is leading the way with upgrades for this weekend’s Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, as the German marque looks to stretch its lead in the championship.
The race weekend at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve marks the final pit-stop before F1 heads into the European leg of the 2026 campaign.
The all-new technical regulations have re-jigged the pecking order from the erstwhile ground effects era, but the teams have been working hard to claw back performance to its rivals.
The clean slate that the teams have started with means any upgrade can be a substantial move up the grid if they get it right. And with the cost-cap in place, the earlier a team gets it right, the more pronounced its competitive edge would be.
Naturally, therefore, the Canadian GP sees as many as nine teams on the grid bring an upgrade package to this weekend’s event – with Championship leaders Mercedes bringing the most extensive revamp for its W17.
The Brackley-based team currently sits atop the Constructors’ championship with a 70-point lead but McLaren has evidently closed that gap over Japan and Miami.
The Silver Arrows have disclosed eight updated components for their car this weekend, encompassing crucial elements of both, its front and rear-end.
The W17 is set to sport a completely re-tuned front-wing and endplates, aimed majorly at improving airflow and downforce.
Mercedes will also introduce a reprofiled diffuser along with floor corner and board elements, and a brand-spanking new set of rear corner elements.
Additionally, given the inherent characteristics of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Mercedes will use a modified front corner with increased inlet sizes to effectuate cooling under high braking load.
McLaren and Red Bull look to close the gap to Mercedes with substantial Canadian GP upgrades
The Woking-based team has enjoyed consecutive podium finishes at the hands of Oscar Piastri at the Japanese and Miami GP, respectively.
Coming into the race weekend at Montreal, McLaren will be sporting six performance-spec upgrades on its MCL40.
These include a brand-new front wing, a modified rear-wing endplate, aerodynamic updates to its engine cover, halo and floor.
Like Mercedes, McLaren has also factored cooling in with increased cooling louvre options, though while Mercedes listed it as a circuit-specific upgrade, McLaren claims their updates “to cover the full range of ambient temperatures expected at this and future events.”
Red Bull on the other hand have focused on reliability over performance with modifications to its brake-duct geometry to accommodate the cooling demands of Montreal and Monaco, and an additional cooling panel on its engine cover.
The RB22 will also sport revised front-wing flap elements and a modified floor aimed at optimising its local load over a stable range of balance.
Notably, though, Ferrari have not brought any upgrades to Canada.
Aston Martin skips Canadian GP upgrades as F1’s midfield battle set to intensify
Aston Martin have endured a difficult start to the sport’s latest era – both, in terms of reliability and out-and-out performance – sitting last and pointless in the standings after five rounds.
And while Honda works hard to optimise its power unit, the Silverstone-based team has decided not to fit any upgrades on the AMR26, this weekend.
F1’s 11th team on the grid, Cadillac, has also failed to score any points so far but hopes to turn its fortunes around with a mini-upgrade package for the Canadian GP.
Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will give effect to a revised front corner and diffuser on their cars this weekend.
The battle for fifth in the standings is dictated by only nine points between Alpine, Haas and Racing Bulls, respectively.
The Enstone-based team has gone conservative with the configuration of its A526 with revisions to its floor board and rear wing geometry.
Haas, on the other hand, has brought five performance-spec upgrades to Montreal – featuring new sidepods, rear suspension, engine cover, floor and rear corner geometry.
Racing Bulls are also set to introduce a swathe of increments on its car, this weekend, with modifications to its floor geometry, and rear-end elements.
Williams has focused on the front-end of its FW48 with a revised front suspension and geometry changes to its front corner elements to propagate more efficient cooling. The Grove-based team will also introduce a re-positioned tailpipe exhuast.
Lastly, Audi is set to bring a modified diffuser, front and rear brake ducts, and sidepod cooling louvres to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, this weekend.
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