Toto Wolff’s Highlights Importance of Lewis Hamilton’s Advice After Admitting to Making a Blunder at the End of 2022

One must be big enough to admit mistakes, smart enough to learn from them, and strong enough to correct them. Toto Wolff admitted to changing the concept of W14 and scrapping the zeropod design after the Bahrain GP. The Austrian has now emphasized the importance of Lewis Hamilton’s comments. Looks like Mercedes and Wolff are smart enough to learn from their mistakes and are now working towards correcting them. But what was the advice that Hamilton gave to Mercedes? Let’s find out.

Lewis Hamilton hasn’t been comfortable driving his Mercedes F1 car ever since the introduction of the ground effect rules. The Briton has been vocal about how there’s a feeling of disconnect with the car. The same is visible in the results where his teammate George Russell has been outperforming the 38-year-old. Lewis Hamilton recently suggested that the major reason behind the feeling of disconnection is the seating position in the car.

The seven-time world champion explained that the Mercedes’ drivers sit closer to the front wheels than any other team. Because of the car’s concept, the cockpit is much further forward than usual. As a result, there’s a feeling of sitting on the front wheels which doesn’t help the feel of what the car is doing behind him.

Toto Wolff already admitted the fact that going forward with the Zeropod design was a bad decision. However, recently Wolff also shook hands with the 38-year-old and agreed that the driver seating position is a big issue. The Mercedes boss believes it is important for the team to listen to Hamilton’s opinion.

According to motorsport-total.com, Toto Wolff said “We are dealing with the big concept of the driver’s position. Obviously, this is one of the most important things.” “It’s about “where the driver has the best feeling in the car. This is something that Lewis expresses very clearly. And if a seven-time world champion has an opinion, then it is important to listen to it,”

Read More: Lewis Hamilton’s Immense Pressure Forces “Whiny” George Russell to Question Mercedes as Toto Wolff Tipped to Deal With Another Head Ache

The F1 driver’s feedback is very important as it helps understand whether the real performance is matching the CFD numbers. Lewis Hamilton made comments about Mercedes’ not listening to him regarding the problems with the concept after Bahrain GP. Maybe it was the seating position problem that the Briton was referring to. Mercedes has confirmed that new updates are on the way and Toto confirmed the expected date of arrival.

Toto Wolff talks about the upcoming upgrades for the Mercedes

Mercedes trackside engineer Andrew Shovlin disclosed that the Silver Arrows understood the limitations of the W14 way before hitting the track in Bahrain. But developing a new concept takes months and therefore they went ahead with the current one only. However, Toto Wolff recently suggested that the new upgrades are doing well and showing good progress. The Austrian expects the upgrades to be ready in time for the Emilia Romagna GP.

According to motorsport.com, Toto Wolff said, “We’re doing good steps, good developments, but you’ve got to run them, confirm them, produce them. So, I think we’re not looking for an introduction before Imola. We want to do it right also. That’s going in a good direction.”  Further adding, “But we shouldn’t expect like a miracle: suddenly we are on pole by half a second.”

Watch this story: Lewis Hamilton Sounds Off the Alarm Bells for Mercedes F1

Do you think the seating position really makes that big of a difference?