Lewis Hamilton’s ‘seat position’ problem - and Toto Wolff’s plan to fix it - explained…

Hamilton had detailed that among his key concerns witღh the underperforming W14 is with his cockpit.
The seven-time world champion, who finisheౠd P2 in Australia behind Max Verstappen, could be boosted upon F1’s return at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix if Mercedes’ work to fix his problems bears fruit.
“We’re dealing with the big concept ofꦆ♎ driver position,” Wolff told .
“Obviously that’s one of the most im𒁃por⛄tant things.”
“[It is about] where the driver ha𝓀s the best feeling in the car. That’s something that Lewis expresses very clearly.
“And when a༒ seven-time world champion has an opinion, it’s important to listen to it.”
Hamilton previously explained his problem: "I don't know if people know, but we sit closer to the front wheels than all the other drivers. Our cockpit is too close to the fꩲront.
"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 driജving a car.
"If you were driving your car at home and you pulled the wheels rꦕight underneath your legs, you would not be happy when you're approaching the roundabou൲t.

"What that does is it really changಌes the attitude of the car and how you perceive i✨ts movement. And it makes it harder to predict compared to when you're further back and sitting more centred.”
Jenson Button analysed the issue for Sky: "With Lewis, the way he drives, you know, he's quite ag✃gressive on the throttle, quite aggressive on the brake and he does everything through the steering wheel, so he really needs to feel what's happening through the rear of the car through his arms.
"And he's not g♉etting that, so he doesn't have that confidence to push the car.
"And these cars are tricky anyway, they're always on edge, e𒁏specially in qualifying. And if he doesn't have that confidence, he's not able to get the maximum out of it.
Karun Chandhok added: "And th𓆏at's the real point isn't it, because the ﷺcontact patches to the ground are through the four wheels, so if you don't feel the rear axle, if he thinks he's further forward, and he can't feel that that, that gives him the inability, perhaps, to have confidence on entry."

James was a sports jour🐈nalist at Sky Sport♕s for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.