MOTORLAT | F1 | The Mercedes team talks about the new sensors that Lewis Hamilton’s car had in the Australian GP.

the team Mercedes has had a complicated start to the season, compared to previous seasons, with the new single-seater of the German team, the W13, has had porpoise problems, and with the intention of being able to collect a greater amount of data, Mercedes decided to add a few more sensors to Hamilton’s car, including a height sensor for the driver’s driving position that had a bright visible light.

While most teams decide to race with these sensors in free practice sessions, before being removed for qualifying and the grand prix due to the extra weight they generate. The teams are having problems in order to maintain the correct weight for their cars this season due to the new technical regulations that are being implemented this year.

James Vowleswho works as director of sports strategy for the Mercedes team, explained that there are “many unanswered questions” about his car, causing the team to make an unusual decision to keep these sensors in the car. Hamilton for the road.

“In a normal year, you wouldn’t even consider not having sensors in the car,” said Vowles in the informative video of the Australian Grand Prix of the Mercedes team.

“You would add what you need to make sure you understand what is going on. But obviously this is not a normal year and the car is overweight. secures James Vowlesdirector of sports strategy for the German team.

Lewis Hamilton finished in 4th position at the Australian Grand Prix, behind George RussellHamilton lost a position to his teammate during the stopping period during the Safety Car.

Although Hamilton managed to catch up with his team-mate on the last leg of the race, his car’s overheating problems meant it wasn’t enough to overtake him.

Vowles ensures that there will always be a small weight trade-off between the two cars, due to the large number of parts they share in each Grand Prix, and the added sensors, only represented a small cost for Hamilton.

“In terms of how it worked out between the two cars, there are thousands of components that make up George and Lewis’ race car, and those components don’t weigh exactly the same amount. ensures Vowles.

“There is variability of a few grams here and there and the actual weight of the car, as mentioned on the FIA ​​scales between the two cars in the race, was within a few grams of each other, so Lewis did a job. fantastic to carry these additional sensors.

“There is variability of a few grams here and there and the actual weight of the car, as mentioned on the FIA ​​scales between the two cars in the race, was within a few grams of each other, so Lewis did a job. great to have these additional sensors.”

“In the end, the cost was small, it was a matter of grams between the two of us, which is what we wanted.”

Vowles He also added that the team Mercedes has managed to collect a considerable amount of data when running the sensors, but at the same time, it downplayed the findings and offered something of a silver bullet that could change the pace of the car.

“It is not that from this you can suddenly find something, you will turn everything upside down and find a solution in a race”, said Vowles.

“But it provides clues and insights into what we need to do to move forward.” He ended with these statements, James Vowleschief strategy officer Mercedes.

–