“Can I Criticize Lewis for…”: Lewis Hamilton’s Pointy Mercedes Criticism Justified as the Brackley Team Desperate for F1 Turnaround

“Lewis had every right to say what he said”, said Eddie Jordan. This came after the Mercedes driver accused the team of not listening to him while designing the W14. It’s known that the 7x champ is not a fan of the Mercedes zeropod design, yet the team decided to retain it for the 2023 season, insisting that it caused no issues in 2022. But the Bahrain GP results made it clear that they were on the ‘wrong track’ and the disappointed Lewis Hamilton did not hold back. 

Speaking to the press, he insisted the team should own up to their mistake and said, “Yeah, you know what, we didn’t listen to you, it’s not where it needs to be and we’ve got to work.” It seemed a bit harsh when the 7x champ publicly criticized his team. But justifying Hamilton’s remarks, Jordan said, “Lewis would not have said that if there hadn’t been that feeling openly within the team. Can I criticise Lewis for saying what he said? I wouldn’t have liked it but there had to be a reason for it.”

He also said, “I don’t want to go and see a Grand Prix [for] who’s going to come third to the Red Bulls. At the moment unfortunately that’s what’s happening. I think Toto needs to rally his troops, he needs to gain total and absolute confidence of all parties, including Lewis.”

READ MORE: Despite Toto Wolff’s Realistic Claims, Lewis Hamilton Expects “Magic” From Mercedes With Past Turnarounds in Reminiscence

On the other hand, Toto Wolff has already admitted that they got it wrong. He said, “when a seven-time world champion has an opinion, it is important to listen to it”. And he’s now moved on to working on the upgrades and giving their drivers an improved car.  

Mercedes trying to better W14 to yield better results for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell

Despite a P2 finish at the Australian Grand Prix, the W14 is still a work in progress. While one driver’s engine failed mid-race, the other had issues with his seating position. Post-race, Hamilton said: “I still feel uncomfortable in the car, don’t feel connected to it. Driving it as best as I can with that connection, but it’s a long project.”

Although the team is keen on fixing these problems, all the major upgrades will have to wait until the Imola Grand Prix in May. However, in order to maintain the momentum from Melbourne, the team has planned short-term upgrades.

Speaking about their plans Mercedes’s chief technical officer said, “We will be working in the drawing office also to bring some mechanical parts to the car, some different suspension components that we think will help the underlying balance of the car, and make it a more drivable thing, making it something that the drivers have more confidence to push right to the limit.”

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Mercedes is presently third in the constructors’ standings, nine points behind second-placed Aston Martin and 67 points behind leaders Red Bull. Let’s see if they can close the gap with Aston Martin in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.