By Connor Bacon
Lewis Hamilton has claimed that his Mercedes team ‘didn’t listen’ to him over feedback on what was needed to improve for the 2023 car.
Despite not suffering from the major porpoising and bouncing issues that crippled the previous year’s machine, the W14 is lacking in overall downforce. Hamilton managed to come home fifth, after being passed by the podium-bound Alonso in the Aston Martin that had much less tyre degradation – something which Mercedes struggled with throughout the race.
And while he shaded Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz’ to the line, the seven-time champion was around a second per lap slower than winner Max Verstappen in the Red Bull – who finished 52s up the road.
In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Hamilton said he told his team what some of the issues were with the car and insists that they must take ‘accountability’ after they ‘didn’t listen.’
“Last year there were things I told them,” Hamilton revealed. “I said the issues that are with the car.
“I’ve driven so many cars in my life, so I know what a car needs, I know what a car doesn’t need. I think it’s really about accountability.
“It’s about owning up and saying, ‘yeah, you know what? We didn’t listen to you. It’s not where it needs to be, and we’ve got to work.’
“We’ve got to look into the balance through the corners, look at all the weak points, and just huddle up as a team. That’s what we do.
“We’re still multi-world champions, you know? Just haven’t got it right this time. [We] didn’t get it right last year. But that doesn’t mean we can’t get it right moving forwards.”
However, the Brit noted how the car “is an enjoyable drive” without the bouncing and that he has been in a position before where the car isn’t quite there on pace.
He said: “I love driving and it wasn’t bouncing! My brain is intact, and my teeth are still in my mouth, I don’t have any pains in my back.
“I just generally enjoyed the drive. I enjoyed that I managed to have a couple of battles and it was close, but it was not quite there.
“I’ve had many cars like this, particularly back in the McLaren days.”
Team Principal Toto Wolff has indicated that a change in concept must be made to close the gap to the front, after Mercedes stuck with a similar design philosophy to last year which includes the zero-side pod shape.
The team is limited with what they can do under the cost cap regulations and therefore it may not be until next year we see a completely different car, but Hamilton says that eventually they will make something work.
“I don’t know when or how we’re going to do it in terms of turning it round, but it’s going to have to happen.”
Photo: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
