Sky F1's Simon Lazenby questions what will happen to Mercedes' no-blame culture if F1 upgrades don't work
A lot rests on this weekend’s 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Monaco Grand Prix for Mercꦡedes, with the German manufacturer finally set to deploy a much-needed car upgrade for their underperforming W14.
Mercedes’ struggles to get to grips with F1’s new regulations has left the once-dominant outfit lagging behind Red Bull, and prevented168澳洲5最新开奖结果: Lewis Hamilton from being able to fight for a record eigh༒th world title.&nܫbsp;
The Silver Arrows’ competitive troubles have led to speculation that Hamilto🍸n, who will become a free agent at the end of the year unless he signs a contract extension, could leave Mercedes amid rumours Ferrari have presented Hamiltౠon with a lucrative offer.
And L🐻azenby has suggested the seven-time world champion’s final decಌision could ultimately hinge on the success of Mercedes’ highly-anticipated upgrades.
"I think a lot of Lewis' decisi꧟on about his future depends on this upgrade set," Lazenby said on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast.
"When you look back to what happened last year, the hopes for the W13 coming out of the simulator was that it was going to blow the rest of them away, it was going to blow Red🌳 Bull away and it was going to bl🐠ow Ferrari away.
"The correlation between what happened there and reality, well we all know the story - Re𒆙d Bull went with the undercut sidepod philosophy which everyone has moved towards whereas Mercedes had this exposed floor and then the porpoisinꩲg happened, they had to stiffen the floor and couldn't raise the rear ride height enough and it turned into bouncing.
"All of this year's problems have come from the fact that I think they were just tantalised by those figures which said 'we are going to completely and utt♌erly destroy the field, let's stick with it'.
“We get into this year and all of the limitations that were created by ha👍ving to try to solve those problems, including keeping Lewis further up front in terms of his seating position so he doesn't feel the rear of his car, they just had to have a reset and a complete rethink of their philosophy.
"If they've got 💙it ಌwrong this time, what happens with the no-blame culture then?”
Sky pundit and f💞ormer W Series racer Naomi Schiff said: "If these upgrades don't live up to what [Mercedes] are hoping that they will and potentially let's talk about next season and they start poorly again then he will be conside🔯ring in what manner he wants to end his career in Formula 1.
“Does he want to ♑be struggling for fourth or fifth place or does h🎃e want to be back at the front, and then I guess Red Bull."
Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for wuq🐼ian0821.com around the world. Often reporting on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who matter in the sport.
