Amid the eight-time constructors’ champion’s ongoing ground-effect struggles, technical director Mike Elliott and chief technical officer James Allison swapped roles back in April.
Allison has alluded to this change leading to a shift in how Hamilton, who has cited a ‘constantly improving process’, and Russell are involved in the work back at the Brackley factory.
He reckons that while the drivers’ primary focus is on racing, they do dedicate time away from races to rank and prioritize the problems that need to be addressed. This allows the team to identify and tackle their challenges more effectively.
By involving the drivers in these discussions, Mercedes ensures that the perspectives of the people who experience the car on the track are taken into account when developing new solutions. Hamilton and Russell’s input can provide valuable insights and help steer the team towards improvements.
This collaborative approach fosters a stronger relationship between the drivers and the engineering team. It also allows for a more seamless integration of feedback and ideas, enabling faster progress in addressing the issues faced by the Mercedes F1 team.
Overall, the role swap between Elliott and Allison appears to have brought positive changes to the Mercedes team dynamics. The involvement of drivers Hamilton and Russell in problem-solving and ranking exercises highlights the team’s commitment to continuous improvement and their recognition of the drivers’ expertise and contribution beyond the racetrack.