Mercedes and Red Bull compete in Melbourne Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton’s criticism of cockpit position

The Melbourne Grand Prix of 2023 saw fierce competition between Mercedes and Red Bull, with George Russell of Mercedes slashing the 0.4-second deficit to Max Verstappen of Red Bull in qualifying by half. Despite Red Bull being faster in top speed by up to 6mph in certain runs, the race was close, with the difference between the quickest efforts not being dramatic.

Changeable Weather affects all teams during practice sessions

Both teams faced hurdles due to changeable weather during practice sessions, which deprived them of race simulations. As such, they had to modify their approaches at lightning speed. However, although the discovery process was challenging, Mercedes succeeded in experimenting with car setups that ultimately appeased Russell and Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton struggles with cockpit position

However, Hamilton had issues with his cockpit position in the Mercedes W14 that affected his feel of a Formula 1 car. In modern F1 cars, the driver’s position is further away from any feedback from the rear grip level than it was in older cars; this may be why Hamilton found it difficult to feel the rear grip. The throat area of the underfloor was also much further forward in older cars.

Hamilton also complained about his lack of confidence with an unstable rear end at slower speeds and desired more downforce. If the driver’s seat is slightly forward, they will not have the same sensation of how fast the rear is moving or when it stops. In contrast, Red Bull and Ferrari drivers sit about 2122cm further forward relative to Mercedes driver position.

Tight competition leads to swings in driver satisfaction

Despite these concerns, Hamilton came third fastest overall for Mercedes thanks to his best lap in FP1. He led the second row of the grid ahead of Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin who fractionally missed out on the best time in the second practice due to rain.

Mercedes switched between suspension settings to chase more mechanical grip, leading to swings in driver satisfaction. Hamilton suffered from the initial acceleration out of slower sequences due to his uneasy relationship with the rear axle.

Final practice critical for drivers

With the final practice remaining, drivers have one more chance to catch up on lost running before qualifying for the Australian GP starts at 3 pm local time (6 am BST) using the regular Q1, Q2, and Q3 knockout session format. The weather forecast for qualifying at Albert Park predicted that it would be cold and mixed, with a good chance of rain.

Fans in the United Kingdom can catch all of the action live on Sky Sports or via live streaming on NOW. Formula 1 enthusiasts can also tune into BBC Radio 5 Live or BBC 5 Live Sports Extra for live radio coverage of every practice, qualifying, and race available on the BBC Sport website.

In conclusion, The Melbourne Grand Prix showcased an intense battle between Mercedes and Red Bull with each team facing its unique challenges. However, both teams displayed fierce determination and skill in overcoming these obstacles.

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