Lewis Hamilton gives update on Mercedes W15 seating after 2023 complaints

Lewis Hamilton expressed his contentment with his seating arrangement in the Mercedes' new W15, mentioning its positive impact on his performance, securing the fastest time on the inaugural day of the championship.

During the previous season, Hamilton had voiced his discomfort with the cockpit's position in the W14, which he felt was excessively forward, causing him to have a restricted sense of the car's behavior.

Explaining that Mercedes sit “closer to the front wheels than all the other drivers”, he added that the “cockpit is too close to the front.

“When you’re driving, you feel like you’re sitting on the front wheels which is one of the worst feelings to feel when you’re driving a car.”

During that period, the team lacked the capability to address the concern, leaving Hamilton to anticipate the introduction of the completely redesigned W15 as the solution.

Mercedes took decisive action with the W15, relocating the seat position 10cm rearward.

Although this adjustment might seem minor, it has significantly impacted Hamilton's performance. He affirmed that it has provided him with an "improved sensation of the car," evident in his leading performance on Thursday in Bahrain.

“My seat position is finally further rearwards, I’ve got a better feel for the car approaching the corners,” he said.

That, though, is by no means the only issue Mercedes have worked on with Hamilton stating: “There are areas that have been fixed and improved.

“It feels like a race car for once and the last two cars didn’t feel like that, so it’s a really good platform for us to work on and we’ve just got to keep our heads down and keep on chasing.”

George Russell: Mercedes listened to Hamilton’s wishes

Following the disconcerting disclosure last year that Mercedes disregarded Hamilton's input regarding the car, a sentiment he reinforced in Netflix's Drive to Survive, stating Mercedes had told him "you're mistaken," Hamilton's teammate George Russell has mentioned that this year, the team has been attentive to the seven-time World Champion's feedback.

That, though, doesn’t mean they have ignored what he needs from the car.

“Lewis and I have put out a huge amount of work into helping steer the team in the direction we want to go,” Russell told the media including PlanetF1.com’s Thomas Maher.

“Obviously with Lewis’ experience, the car has been designed around his wishes with the car being sat further rearwards than we were last year, the Red Bull-esque sidepods on the side, and a slightly different steering rack.

“So, it’s good that the team have sort of been listening to that, but we need to see if that translates into lap time.”

He added: “I’m happy with the changes that were pushed into this car and I think as any driver you just need to adapt to whatever you’re given.

“We’re sitting further rearwards this season. For me, it’s a small change, not better, not worse.”