Lewis Hamilton has had a tough outing with the Mercedes car since last year. The Brackley-based team is somehow unable to fix the car so that Hamilton can win the titles. The previous year saw a massive porpoising problem that not only slowed the car down but also injured the drivers to a certain extent. But this time, the W14 car is facing trouble with the balance as well as the seat position. Lewis Hamilton has complained about the car on numerous occasions.
But still, there has been no change to the vehicle or to the results. In the cost cap era, the Brackley team has lost its touch. Now, the car is nothing but trouble. Even then, Lewis Hamilton was able to win the P2 in the Australian Grand Prix. It was upsetting when nobody from his team came to greet him. If so many complications persist, then the fans and the experts wonder how long Hamilton should stay in Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton Is Not Happy With The Seat Position
In the recent case of the problem with seat position, Lewis Hamilton mentioned, “If you look at my history, you’ll know that I’ve always enjoyed the oversteering version of the car.” But the current W14 car is making Hamilton really more forward than the Red Bull drivers. The Briton even suggested that he always struggled with the more forward position, and that is the worst.
The seven-time champion further explained that their cockpit is too close to the front wheels of the W14 car. It does not feel good to sit on the front wheels for Hamilton, as he has struggled with that every time. A former teammate of Lewis Hamilton back in their McLaren days, Jenson Button, also explained why Hamilton is not able to extract the most out of the car. Button feels the biggest problem for the seven-time champion is confidence. Lewis is not finding things he wants in a car, so he is not able to rely on these cars.
Jenson Button Explains Why Hamilton Is Having So Much Trouble
Button further explained how Hamilton likes to drive, saying, “He likes to go full throttle and shows aggression with the brake, and he depends a lot on the steering wheel. Hence, Hamilton will need to feel the car through its rear.” However, with the more forward position, Hamilton is not able to do so. That’s what must have been bothering the seven-time champ. Analyst Karun Chandhok added to the point Button was making that the driver needs to feel the contact with the ground through the four wheels.
But if the rear axle does not work, then the driver may think he is way ahead. That is why Lewis Hamilton is having trouble with confidence while entering. He had the same issue in Australia. The problem in the qualifying rounds in Australia was while turning the wheel, and Hamilton immediately started correcting even before reaching the apex. As a result, later, he even missed the apex. Due to the W14 car, Hamilton’s confidence is getting a significant beating.