Lewis Hamilton said his new F1 car “looks like a boat”. The triple world champion shared his first impressions from the car in an interview for one of Mercedes’ sponsors in Grand prix. He also stated that the data flow between his and his teammate’s boxes should stop.
“I mean, it looks like a boat. It’s so big, so much bigger than before. It’s wider, longer”, Hamilton explained. “From the cockpit back to the axle there’s so much material. In 2007, 2008 the distance between the fuel tank and the rear axle was really short. So it’s a lot different. But I’m sure we’ll grow into it, I’m sure people will like it because we’ve got the wide tyres.”
The English driver said he does not know if racing will be better. According to him Formula 1 should return to much simpler cars: “I would go back to a more generic car. I liked having a gear stick. I’d take the quick-shift off, I don’t like these gearboxes that we use today.”
“When I was driving Formula Three it was Tiptronic so it was forwards and backwards but you had to pull like an engine cut. So it was just cool to come into the corners and have to blip coming down the gears. It was just fantastic.”
“But now it’s all done with the click of a button and you have to work with your engineer to work on the consistency, how much engine braking you use, it’s ridiculous.”
Lewis Hamilton: “You’ve got to find the limit yourself, that’s the whole challenge of being a racing driver”
In 2017 Lewis Hamilton will have a new teammate after Nico Rosberg quit F1 at the end of last season. Valtteri Bottas was recruited by Mercedes and is determined to show that he deserves the place. Meanwhile it seems as if Hamilton wants to protect his domain. He revealed he has asked the team about the data sharing situation.
“I go out, do my laps, do all my homework, the other guy can see everything. I don’t think they should do.”
“For example when we’re driving we’re picking out braking points, bumps, tyre rubber marks on the track, all these different things to help get you through the corner quickest. And the other driver probably naturally may be able to do more or less than you are.”
“But because of this data they can just copy you. So that’s what I really dislike. Because it enables them to get closer. That’s what I loved about go-karting, you weren’t able to do that and that was where just your raw talent is able to shine.”
According to Hamilton engineers should be able to share data but drivers “shouldn’t be able to study each others’ data”.
“You’ve got to find the limit yourself, that’s the whole challenge of being a racing driver. When I get in this new car it’s seeing what the limit of it is. And if I can’t do it on my own then I’m not good enough and I don’t deserve to be there. And there are some drivers that don’t”, the Englishman added.
I wish to clarify, I have not hit out at my team at all. My point on data sharing is solely my feelings about the sport in general
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) 20 February 2017
It has been my feeling since the day I started F1 and still is 10 years later. There is zero problems in my team, zero problems with Bottas
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) 20 February 2017
