Mercedes admits to going too far on the setup in Azerbaijan
James Vowles admitted that Mercedes had pushed the W13's setup "too far" in Baku, which caused the tire blistering issues. The British engineer also took the opportunity to provide an update on Lewis Hamilton, who was affected by these setbacks last Sunday.

Mercedes, as usual, suffered from bouncing in the streets of Baku. But the layout of the track and the surfacing made these rebounds even more unbearable for the drivers, especially for Lewis Hamilton who suffered from back pain and took some time to get out of his car at the end of the Grand Prix.
But beyond the track-related parameters, Mercedes went too far in their choice of setup last weekend. At least, that’s what James Vowles, the team’s Strategy Director, admits in the post-race debrief posted on the German team’s YouTube channel. On this occasion, we pushed the package and our drivers too far. We put them in significant discomfort and we simply cannot do it again, shares the British engineer.
Vowles also explained that the cold sensation Lewis Hamilton mentioned on the radio during the race was related to these bounces. « I spent a few minutes with Lewis to ask him what had happened. Nothing had really changed in the car, it just seems that after the many hits he received from the bounces, numbness settled in and it appears that the cold was a response to that. So there was nothing cold in the car. It’s just a response to the amount of endurance and pain he went through in the race. »
The 42-year-old Brit took advantage of this opportunity to provide reassuring news about the seven-time world champion. “I am happy to tell you that Lewis is here this morning,” Vowles indicates, before confirming the presence of the Stevenage native for the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend. “I spent a few hours with him, and he is doing well. He will be back in the car in Montreal. He is an elite athlete who will push his own limits of endurance and those of the car, and that is what Formula 1 drivers do, it’s what makes them exceptional.”
Mercedes could therefore attempt to find a less daring setup this weekend in Montreal.