There are growing concerns regarding Lewis Hamilton’s experimentation with his car’s set-up and its potential ramifications for Mercedes’ long-term development.
Hamilton’s recent performance at the F1 Chinese Grand Prix has sparked discussions about his approach. Despite displaying prowess in sprint qualifying and the sprint race, Hamilton’s decision to alter the set-up of his W15 prior to the main event proved detrimental.
This move, he claimed, led to an error that compromised his qualifying session, relegating him to an 18th-place start. Despite a commendable recovery to finish in 9th position, questions have arisen regarding the wisdom of his actions.
Former F1 technical director Gary Anderson, known for his tenure at the Jordan F1 team, has voiced concerns over Hamilton’s approach. In a piece for The Telegraph, Anderson emphasized that “excuses must stop at some point” for Hamilton.
He cautioned that Mercedes faces “a fundamental problem” that cannot be rectified through mere set-up adjustments. Anderson believes that Hamilton’s relentless pursuit of a winning formula through tinkering with set-up configurations is futile and destined to fail.
Hamilton’s quest for performance gains through constant adjustments may have short-term benefits but could potentially hinder Mercedes’ long-term development. Anderson’s critique underscores the delicate balance between immediate success and sustainable progress in Formula 1.
Furthermore, the former F1 car designer raised concerns about the decision-making process within Hamilton’s team, suggesting that scrutiny is warranted. While Hamilton acknowledged responsibility for the set-up alterations to his car, questions lingered about the individuals involved in these decisions.
Anderson argued that a collective effort involving “key engineers” and possibly even team principal Toto Wolff should have been engaged in the process. He contested Hamilton’s portrayal of the changes to the W15 as being overly drastic, suggesting that they were likely more subtle than portrayed.
Identifying three specific areas of significant change in ground-effect era F1 cars—ride height, spring stiffness, and front and rear wing aerodynamic balance—Anderson emphasized the limitations of set-up adjustments.
While such changes can influence a car’s balance, they cannot fundamentally transform its performance.
Hamilton was urged to confront the reality of the W15 and cautioned against being misled by constant set-up tweaks. Anderson warned that Hamilton’s tinkering could have repercussions beyond his tenure with Mercedes, affecting the team’s performance in 2025 and beyond.
The perpetual alterations to the car’s set-up create challenges in establishing a reliable baseline for performance assessment. Without solid data to guide development, the team’s direction can become murky, hindering progress.
In his final season with Mercedes, Hamilton was advised to observe and learn from teammate George Russell to maximize his performance and finish as the team’s top driver for the season.
This counsel underscores the importance of leveraging internal resources and expertise to achieve competitive success.
