'It will be some time before Mercedes comes out with major updates'

Lando Norris' victory in Miami is one that not many people saw coming. Indeed, all weekend, Max Verstappen and his Red Bull seemed a lot faster, but a huge 'chess piece' in Formula 1 is car updates. McLaren brought several updates to Lando Norris' car over the weekend in Miami, which improved his pace greatly. Oscar Piastri got half of these updates and will get the other half in Imola. At the Imola Grand Prix, both Ferrari and Red Bull will also come up with updates.

McLaren's victory creates hope for Mercedes

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said after the Miami race that the good steps forward made by McLaren give hope. "They [McLaren] have made such a massive step since last summer and they won fair and square and this is with a Mercedes engine. And that is so important for all of us to see that you can make these steps if you bring in the right upgrades and do the right work."

According to the Austrian team boss, Mercedes are also taking steps forward. "I think we understand much more what is needed to get the car in a better space because it's so clear now what it does. And why we struggle and where we struggle. But in Formula One, you can accelerate development and produce the bits, and we're flat out. The design office is all in. Production operations are flat out. The race team has been doing a good job, so all of the factories are really in sixth gear to bring stuff to the car that we believe can be very helpful."

However, Wolff is realistic indicating that major updates for Mercedes could take some time. "I think we know what we do, and in terms of what we're bringing to the car, you can't really rush it, because you’ve got to develop the point where you say, 'Now it's good to be released into production'. And once that part comes, or once these bits come, they need to be solid, so this is a matter of many weeks," Wolff said.