F1 News
Wolff intervenes: 'It's important to listen to a seven-time world champion'
- GPblog.com
Ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton reiterated exactly what he thinks of Mercedes' W14. This time, the 38-year-old Brit complained about the cockpit placement, which he believes is too far forward. Team boss Toto Wolff addressed whether major changes to the cockpit are now planned.
Wolff intervenes after Hamilton complaint
Something will definitely be done with Hamilton's feedback about the cockpit position, which is significantly further forward at Mercedes than at, say, Red Bull Racing. Wolff emphasised this when asked if the cockpit position is subject to change.
"We are dealing with the big concept of the driver position. That is obviously one of the most important things," he explained, according to Motorsport-Total.com. "It's about where the driver has the best feeling in the car, which is something Lewis expresses very clearly. And when a seven-time world champion has an opinion, it is important to listen to it," Wolff said.
Mercedes performed significantly better during the race weekend at Albert Park than the team itself had expected. George Russell qualified on the front row of the grid alongside Max Verstappen and managed to take over the lead at the start, but fell back in the rankings when the red flag was waved just after his pit stop. He later retired with an engine problem.
Hamilton was luckier: he managed to hold off an attacking Fernando Alonso and take second place, securing his team their first podium finish of the 2023 Formula 1 season.