P1racenews AI automatic summary:
How Mercedes F1 team looks to have resolved one of Hamilton’s bugbears
Hamilton expressed his discomfort with the seating position and front wheel proximity in the W14, affecting his confidence and driving experience. In response to his feedback, Mercedes shifted the cockpit back by up to 100mm in the new W15 F1 car, necessitating redesigns in chassis, fuel tank, and gearbox to maintain the wheelbase. The transition from zeropod to downwash design in the W15 facilitated the cockpit change by eliminating the need for deep chassis recesses. Additionally, the team relocated the upper SIS farther back within the main sidepod bodywork, enhancing aerodynamics and improving balance. Despite Hamilton’s reservations about the W14, technical director James Allison attributed his concerns to the car’s overall performance issues rather than solely the seating position. Allison suggested that optimizing car stability would address Hamilton’s driving challenges, rather than seeking to perfect his seating arrangement.
