Mercedes has finally delivered a significant upgrade, and F1 enthusiasts are wondering if this marks the end of the competition.

Mercedes managed to go five months without making any adjustments to the W17 while still establishing a 160-point advantage over Ferrari in the constructors' championship. Achieving six victories in ten races certainly contributes to that. Therefore, when the team finally introduced a significant upgrade package at Sepang for the Bahrain Grand Prix, the inquiry shifts from whether it will be quick to how quick it will be.

This upgrade package marks the first major alteration Mercedes has implemented on its car since the Canadian Grand Prix in May, impacting nearly every aerodynamic aspect of the vehicle. It includes seven components distributed across the floor, sidepods, rear bodywork, and rear suspension. This is a comprehensive package that Mercedes hopes will sustain its performance for the remainder of the season.

What’s actually changed on the W17?

The most noticeable modifications stem from the floor and the sidepods. The leading edge has been redesigned, along with the corner, floorboard, and body, to enhance pressure distribution and reduce airflow separation at the floor's edges. In simpler terms, the team aims to maximize the amount of clean air reaching the rear of the car, which also features various updates including winglets and reshaped suspension fairings.

The rear bodywork has been streamlined, and a larger side ramp facilitates airflow over the back of the floor. New sidepods reminiscent of McLaren's designs have also been installed, equipped with sizable gills to assist with heat dissipation on the warm Sepang circuit.

Speaking on Sky Sports F1, Bernie Collins referred to it as "A very intimidating set of upgrades on the Mercedes. It all begins at the front floor area. The floor fences and floor body have been modified to guide airflow to the rear. It's all about generating more downforce and load more effectively. This Mercedes is the one to beat."

If you check social media, you'll find similarly assured remarks.

Team principal Toto Wolff is optimistic that it will help secure pole position this weekend.

"We are introducing an update package this weekend, which is a crucial step for us. At the more representative circuits in recent races, we haven't performed to our expectations. Monza and Baku presented unique challenges, but on the more traditional tracks, we haven't been in contention for pole position. We recognize this and are diligently working to rectify it.

"We hope this update will represent another advancement, but in F1, there are no certainties. The stopwatch is the ultimate arbiter. Our focus is on quickly understanding the package, executing the weekend effectively, and positioning ourselves at the front."

Russell is counting on the upgrade to assist him at Sepang: "Hopefully, this new upgrade with a few distinctive changes will also work to my advantage. So, let’s see what happens."

Mercedes has more upgrades planned for later in the season. An ADUO upgrade is expected at some point, but having claimed 11 out of 15 races so far, the team has faced minimal challenges. However, upgrades from competitors have been abundant, and Mercedes must keep pace.