Lewis Hamilton expressed that Mercedes has found a guiding direction with the introduction of their new car, likening it to a “North Star” for the team as they fully abandon the no-sidepod concept for the upcoming 2024 season.
The no-sidepod concept was initially unveiled as a surprise during Bahrain testing in 2022, but it fell short of expectations. Despite a victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Mercedes faced challenges and eventually modified the design during 2023 testing. Early races revealed its ineffectiveness, leading them to adopt conventional sidepods at the Monaco GP. However, certain car components couldn’t be altered due to Formula 1 regulations.
Hamilton told the BBC, “I do believe we have a North Star now, which I don’t think we’ve had for two years, but still getting there is not a straight line.” He acknowledged the difficulties and decisions that led to dead ends, constrained by factors such as the cost cap and other regulations.
We miss it already 🥲 pic.twitter.com/yoI2Jel1aY
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 1, 2023
Despite Hamilton’s grievances about Red Bull’s dominant RB19 car and its impact on the competitiveness of the sport, he pointed to Red Bull as an inspiring example for Mercedes. Red Bull swiftly addressed issues with their car in 2022, leading to a remarkable performance in the 2023 season with 21 out of 22 wins.
Hamilton noted, “If you look at the Red Bull, and they have done an amazing job… they add one brick after the other, just development, development, development.” In contrast, he described Mercedes’ struggle with aero issues, having to dismantle their initial setup and face challenges in making improvements. Hamilton highlighted the contrast in development approaches, emphasizing the obstacles Mercedes faced in trying to enhance their performance over an extended period.