Explained: Hamilton’s ‘seat position’ problem – and Wolff’s plan to fix it

Explained: Hamilton’s ‘seat position’ problem – and Wolff’s plan to fix it

 

 

 

Hamilton had detailed that among his key concerns with the underperforming W14 is with his cockpit.The seven-time world champion, who finished P2 in Australia behind Max Verstappen, could be boosted upon F1’s return at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix if Mercedes’ work to fix his problems bears fruit.Is F1 prioritising Entertainment over Safety?Video of Is F1 prioritising Entertainment over Safety?“We’re dealing with the big concept of driver position,” Wolff told motorsport-total.com. “Obviously that’s one of the most important things.”“[It is about] where the driver has the best feeling in the car. That’s something that Lewis expresses very clearly.“And when a seven-time world champion has an opinion, it’s important to listen to it.”Hamilton previously explained his problem: “I don’t know if people know, but we sit closer to the front wheels than all the other drivers. Our cockpit is too close to the front.”When you’re driving, you feel like you’re sitting on the front wheels, which is one of the worst feelings to feel when you’re driving a car.Related “I was absolutely hammered!” – Hamilton’s hilarious memory of being a bartender “We have a lame horse” – Russell’s frank assessment of the Mercedes W14 “If you were driving your car at home and you pulled the wheels right underneath your legs, you would not be happy when you’re approaching the roundabout.

“What that does is it really changes the attitude of the car and how you perceive its movement. And it makes it harder to predict compared to when you’re further back and sitting more centred.”Jenson Button analysed the issue for Sky: “With Lewis, the way he drives, you know, he’s quite aggressive on the throttle, quite aggressive on the brake and he does everything through the steering wheel, so he really needs to feel what’s happening through the rear of the car through his arms.”And he’s not getting that, so he doesn’t have that confidence to push the car.”And these cars are tricky anyway, they’re always on edge, especially in qualifying. And if he doesn’t have that confidence, he’s not able to get the maximum out of it.Karun Chandhok added: “And that’s the real point isn’t it, because the contact patches to the ground are through the four wheels, so if you don’t feel the rear axle, if he thinks he’s further forward, and he can’t feel that that, that gives him the inability, perhaps, to have confidence on entry.” 

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