The trip to Baku for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix of Formula 1 may put Mercedes in front of an important choice for the rest of the season. The team is preparing to deploy a major upgrade package next weekend, but another engine change may be off the table to avoid another grid penalty.
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The package will be installed on both cars and will likely be Mercedes’ last of the season. Toto Wolff’s team is trying to make up for missing the first ADUO period, held shortly after the Monaco GP, when not only their cars but also customer teams were left without an updated power unit.
Mercedes, McLaren, Williams, and Alpine still do not have this updated engine. However, the situation may change already in Azerbaijan: according to Autoracer.it, McLaren is expected to receive the power unit with the ADUO even before Mercedes itself and the other customers.
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At the same time, Mercedes may choose not to make a new engine change in Baku. The strategy would aim to prevent its drivers from exceeding the allowed number of replacements and consequently suffering further grid position losses. Kimi Antonelli was already penalized at the Italian GP precisely after changing his engine and losing grid positions.
Mercedes leads the constructors’ championship with 503 points. Ferrari is second with 358.
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