Formula 1 | Mercedes, Hamilton: “The W08 confirmed great qualities, but it wasn't the best single-seater”

In an interview with motorsport.com, Lewis Hamilton spoke about the performance of the W08 EQ Power, underlining how overall it was not the best single-seater in this 2017 season. According to the Englishman, in fact, this year's car has confirmed great qualities, but the philosophy adopted last winter slightly penalized the development of the single-seater, undermining performance at the end of the season.

Hamilton revealed how some aerodynamic load was lost during the last championship, especially with the latest evolutionary package brought to Sepang, and this forced the technicians to work overtime. As stated by Hamilton himself, “After Malaysia we had the longest debriefing I can remember”.

Here are the words of the World Champion: “Our car confirmed great qualities, obviously, but it wasn't the best throughout the year. We suffered a bit of a load, especially after Malaysia, and some choices made in recent years did not fit perfectly with the new regulations. However, the team was able to react, rolling up its sleeves and looking for a solution quickly. The guys were amazing, listening to my advice and Valtteri's. We didn't have the best car, but as a team we were second to none. It was a difficult season, but together we managed to put the puzzle together."

Roberto Valenti