Throughout this season, Lewis Hamilton has frequently expressed his frustrations regarding the setup choices.
Mercedes’ Andrew Shovlin has conceded Lewis Hamilton “has made himself a victim” this season by being the one to go with the more bold set-up experiments for the W15.
According to trackside engineering director Shovlin, the reason behind the noticeable difference in performance between the two Silver Arrows drivers this year is Hamilton’s inclination towards making significant adjustments to the setup.
Lewis Hamilton set-up issues revealed by Mercedes chief
Since the 2022 season, Hamilton has continuously exhibited frustration while attempting to adapt to the Mercedes car. This issue persists even after three seasons.
Shovlin attributed Hamilton’s apparent struggles in comparison to George Russell to the fact that the seven-time World Champion has occasionally portrayed himself as a victim.
Shovlin told Auto Motor und Sport that the primary focus is on gaining a deeper understanding of the car.
Lewis is particularly receptive to making significant changes to the set-up of his car this year. He is eager to gain a deeper understanding of how to maximize its potential. Although he has experienced some setbacks, he recognizes the importance of embracing change in order to facilitate growth and learning. Accepting the notion that things are unchangeable and settling for the status quo would be misguided.
In order to minimize compromises, it is imperative to effectively attain a more optimal vehicle balance.
We often find ourselves repeatedly encountering a pattern where we resolve one issue, only to encounter a new one in its place. The objective should be to achieve a sturdy front axle without compromising stability at the rear, while also ensuring the vehicle handles well in slow corners without experiencing oversteer in fast corners.
Hamilton came in second place in the sprint race in Shanghai, but unfortunately qualified in 18th position. Shovlin explained that the team was unable to resolve the problems in time, leading to this outcome.
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According to the Mercedes chief, “The changes we made between sprint and qualification could no longer be validated in the simulator.”
“There simply wasn’t sufficient time for that. Moreover, the alterations he made to the vehicle resulted in excessive understeer. His attempt to address one issue ended up causing another.”
“Throughout the sprint, both drivers shared a common sentiment that many of the cars, particularly in the slow corners, had room for improvement. Both drivers believed that significant changes were necessary. However, they opted for different approaches to delve deeper into understanding the behavior of the car’s set-up. The challenge they encountered was that making such drastic set-up changes left little time for the drivers to adapt and familiarize themselves with the resulting effects.”
In Q1, there were only two laps, which is why Lewis decided to brake at the end of the straight. He anticipated a different response from the car, not primarily because of the setup, but rather due to a tuning adjustment leading to a varied reaction.
“What is the takeaway from this experience? When it comes to sprint weekends, transitioning from sprints to qualifying, it is not advisable to implement major changes, even if the driver believes there is room for improvement.”
“It is preferable to provide him with a car that he is familiar with and comprehends.”
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