Lewis Hamilton has singled out trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin as the sole individual he engages in arguments with at Mercedes, particularly in the pursuit of performance.
The 2023 F1 season has proven to be a source of frustration for Mercedes, as their hopes of reclaiming a title contender status have waned. Following their decision to abandon the unique ‘zero-pod concept’ after the Bahrain Grand Prix, Mercedes finds itself in a battle with Ferrari for a distant second place in the standings while Red Bull dominates. Hamilton, in expressing his discontent with the team, has criticized the lack of attention to his input for the W14 in the early stages of the season.
In the ongoing F1 2023 season, Lewis Hamilton has revealed that his primary source of disagreements within the Mercedes team revolves around trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin. Despite being an eight-time Constructors’ champion, Mercedes has faced a challenging season, opting to abandon their unique ‘zero-pod concept’ after the initial race in Bahrain. As their aspirations to contend for the championship dwindle, they find themselves in a fierce battle with Ferrari for a distant second place, while Red Bull dominates the standings.
Lewis Hamilton always arguing with Andrew Shovlin
Hamilton, known for his meticulous involvement in car development, expressed frustration early in the season, asserting that his insights for the W14 had not been adequately considered.
This candid revelation sheds light on the internal dynamics within the Mercedes team, emphasizing the significance of Hamilton’s input and the challenges they face in achieving optimal performance. The ongoing disagreements with Andrew Shovlin underscore the complexities involved in managing a top-tier F1 team striving for success amidst intense competition.
But, in the quest for performance gains, he revealed that he often ends up clashing with Shovlin, who will tell him: “You’re not always right.”
In fairness, Hamilton says that often ends up proving to be true.
“One of my engineers, Shov, will say, ‘You’re not always right, right. You’ve just got to accept that you’re not always right,’” the Express quotes Hamilton as having told Esporte na Band.
“And that’s one of the things that I struggle with. I argue and argue and argue, but then I’ll say, ‘Yep, okay. You were right.’”
