Lewis Hamilton has once again criticised Mercedes, stating that he has been urging for “fundamental changes” to his car for over a year as the German manufacturer continues to face difficulties.
The seven-time Formula One champion believes that a different approach to development is necessary to improve the team’s performance.
Expressing his expectations, Hamilton said, “Ultimately, there are fundamental changes that have to change for next year.
“And I’ve been asking for it for over a year.
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“So I expect to have that in the future, which I think will definitely help.
“But it’s not only that, it’s the rear end, and how it rotates through a corner.
“But we’re working on that, and the team are very, very focused on that.
“I think we’ve got some progress coming over the coming months, which will also help rectify that. So I’m excited.”
Mercedes has made some progress since introducing upgrades at the Monaco Grand Prix, achieving a double podium finish in Spain and Hamilton securing a top-three finish at the Canadian Grand Prix.
However, the team has faced challenges in Austria after Ferrari and McLaren introduced their own upgrades.
Hamilton’s recent comments echo his previous statements about Mercedes not heeding his input on the new W14 car. In March, he expressed his frustration, stating, “Last year, there were things I told them.
“I said the issues that are with the car. I’ve driven so many cars in my life.
“I know what a car needs. I know what a car doesn’t need. I think it’s really about accountability.
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“It’s about owning up and saying, ‘Yeah, you know what? We didn’t listen to you. It’s not where it needs to be, and we’ve got to work’.”
Weeks later, Hamilton subtly took a dig at the team, suggesting satisfaction in being proven right about the issues they faced.
He remarked, “I’m one of those people that always likes to be right, but I’m not always right, but in this scenario, I was right. So it was good, it was like, ‘I told you’.”