Concerns raised that Mercedes concept change was down to drivers, not engineers

After a slow start to 2023, Mercedes decided to change their design concept with the W14 by introducing a major upgrade in Monaco.

The update saw significant changes to the sidepod era with Hamilton pushing Mercedes to go down the Red Bull route.

Hamilton raised his concerns about this year's Mercedes immediately after the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

He said to the BBC: “Last year, I told them the issues that are with the car. 

“Like, I’ve driven so many cars in my life, so I know what a car needs, I know what a car doesn’t need.”

Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, Croft speculated that the design changes have been dictated by the drivers, rather than the engineering team.

“I worry with Mercedes who’s wagging these engineering changes?” he said.

“Is the engineering team saying we need to be changing our concept, or is it pressure from those in the cockpit from Lewis and from George?

“Lewis is a vastly experienced racing driver and George has got plenty of experience himself, but you want the engineering team to be driving it because they understand engineering and design and aerodynamics way more than the drivers ever will. 

“But I just worry that the changing concept, did it come from the cockpit or did it come from back at base?”

Like Ferrari at the end of the Michael Schumacher era, Croft says Mercedes’ downfall is expected given the high-profile personnel that have left the team.

“They’re losing staff, Loic Serra is heading off to Ferrari and they’ll miss him, and there have been others that have gone as well,” Croft added.

“We often see that dynasties dissipate after a while, and that group of men and women that came together to create such an amazing dynasty at Mercedes have ticked past midnight and are we starting to wane just a little bit now?”