Why '3D problem' left upgraded Mercedes outside its 'happy state'

Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord has addressed the conspicuous performance of the W17 at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, after its significant upgrades failed to bring the desired results.

The Brackley-based team leaves the Sepang International Circuit unsure how much the updated floor and bodywork have improved the pace of the car — and whether the developments are a step forward at all.

After George Russell displayed imperious form at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the signs heading into the round in Malaysia were ominous.

However, Mercedes found itself a shade slower than resurgent Red Bull, who took pole and victory with Max Verstappen, and fighting with Ferrari on performance on an abrasive and punishing track surface — made only worse by the scorching temperatures on Friday and Saturday — that categorically did not suit the W17.

The torrential conditions on Sunday threw a considerable curveball, and the eight-time constructors' champions looked set to claim second and third, only for Russell to retire with only a handful of laps to go, leaving Lewis Hamilton to round out the rostrum behind Kimi Antonelli.

"The combination potentially of update, track temperature, and track surface caused an interaction — a set of behaviours — that meant the car was not in its usual happy state, that the drivers were having to turn the car on the throttle in the slow corners," Lord explained in a Mercedes debrief.

"That was further exacerbating the challenges of tyre temperatures. So that's not an easy thing to unpick."

The '3D problem' facing Mercedes

Lord underlined the considerable work facing Mercedes to understand how it must respond to what transpired in Malaysia.

He pointed out that the ramifications will not only inform the continued direction of the W17, but also the development of next season's car, too.

"It's a bit of a 3D problem that we need to work through, and then figure out exactly what steps we take going forward to make sure we've got the base understanding that we need to understand that the update is working well and that we're heading in the right direction in our development, not just for this year's car but for next year as well," he added.

"So that's work that's going on at the moment, back in the factory and also over in Singapore, in order to establish exactly what the plan is for the coming days and the race weekend in Singapore."