Toto Wolff launches Mercedes investigation as Lewis Hamilton makes concern clear

31 July 2023 , 12:15

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Lewis Hamilton raised an issue for Mercedes as he felt bouncing during the Belgian GP (Image: Sky Sports)

Toto Wolff vowed to investigate after admitting Mercedes' latest upgrades might have brought about the return of porpoising.

Lewis Hamilton voiced his concern after finishing fourth at the Belgian Grand Prix. He was happy after landing an extra point for fastest lap at the end of the race, but pointed out the problem he faced throughout.

"The rear end is our biggest issue, and then we had big bouncing this weekend," the seven-time world champion said. "We're back to the bouncing like we had last year."

Asked about the cause, he added: "They don't know. To me it is a concern. We'll work through the data this week and then try to figure out what we'll do for the next race. I don't really have any more answers for you. I know what I want and I'm praying for it. I'm just waiting for the day we get it."

Team principal Wolff also admitted that he was not sure what the cause was, but was worried that the upgrades that they introduced at Spa-Francorchamps might have played a part.

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"The car is just bouncing literally on every straight," he told reporters. "Even Blanchimont was a corner that Lewis had to lift which is an easy flat [out] normally. You're bouncing on the straight, you overheat the tyres on the braking, so that is a vicious circle and was the main limiting factor this weekend.

"We've got to analyse it. There's so much hard work that's been going on in the upgrade, the aero guys and operations to deliver that upgrade. The floor could have been a reason why we've been bouncing.

Toto Wolff is worried Mercedes' upgrades might have played a part (HOCH ZWEI/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

"But we're going to see it in the data and maybe there's nothing which we need to fine tune, because I still believe that the direction that we are going now is the right one."

In a separate interview, Wolff was rather flat and gave the impression he is glad to see the summer break. He said: "Not great. The car was okay. It's a track where we were not good last year but we're going into the summer now, at least. Three week break. But I think we're on the right trajectory."

Mercedes have a 51-point advantage over Aston Martin and sit second in the constructors' standings. In the drivers' championship, Hamilton is now just a single point behind Fernando Alonso in the race to be best of the rest behind the Red Bull drivers.

Daniel Moxon