We often heard Lewis Hamilton complain about it. He was uncomfortable in the seat of his W14. After seeing the shakedown, this problem seems to have been solved.

After changing the regulations from the 2022 season, Mercedes’ car also needed a complete overhaul. The problem the team found, as a result, was the well-known porpoising. This caused many physical complaints from the Mercedes drivers (and drivers for other teams). After several months, the Silver Arrows managed to solve this problem.

Cockpit too close to the front wheels at W14

Now, the team ran into a new problem last season. According to Hamilton, the cockpit was far too close to the front of the car. This made him feel like he was sitting on the front wheels while driving the car. This made for a very uncomfortable feeling, which meant he struggled to predict the car’s movements. This isn’t something his Mercedes teammate George Russell complained about publically.

Photos from the shakedown show that the cockpit has been moved backwards slightly. It is a small difference, but this can make a big difference in a Formula 1 car. We will surely find out whether this has actually fixed the problems for Hamilton during the first races.

Lewis Hamilton on ‘dream’ to take Mercedes back to F1 summit in final season at team ahead of Ferrari switch

Lewis Hamilton “most motivated and focused I’ve ever been” as he targets a strong final Mercedes season; Sky F1 podcast panel discuss what Lewis’ final season at team might be like; watch pre-season testing live from Wednesday at 7am on Sky Sports F1

Lewis Hamilton has described it as being “the greatest honour” if he was able to help take Mercedes back to the top of Formula 1 in his final season at the team before moving to Ferrari.

Speaking in an interview released by Mercedes from their Silverstone car launch Hamilton said: “I feel the most motivated and focused I’ve ever been.

“I mean every year you come back and you’re like ‘I’m fitter than ever’ and all these different things but I genuinely feel I’ve put more work and more time and more focus into preparation this year.

“I never thought that at this point in my life that I would have hunger like I do right now and to finish on a high with this team, it would be a dream.

“We’ve gone through a whole heap together so to finish on a high it would be the greatest honour to be able to help them to get back to the top.”

After briefly driving the team’s all-new W15 for the first time in a shakedown at a wet Silverstone after its launch last week, Hamilton’s 12th and final season at Mercedes will begin in earnest this week with three days of pre-season in Bahrain on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – live on Sky Sports F1 from 7am each day.