BEYOND THE GRID: Mercedes tech chief Mike Elliott on the single ‘mistake’ that compromised their 2022 car
As soon as the 2022 Mercedes F1 car hit the racetrack, the man who oversaw its creation realised it had problems. “We made a mistake”, admits Technical Director Mike Elliott in this week’s Beyond The Grid podcast.
Mike tells host Tom Clarkson how he and his team of engineers at the Silver Arrows’ Brackley HQ traced the car’s problems to a single design decision, how a year of not winning has helped the people at Mercedes develop, and how he craves a return to the team’s championship-winning form.
READ MORE: Wolff says fight for P2 in constructors’ ‘significantly more difficult’ for Mercedes after low-scoring Singapore Grand Prix
Looking back, Mike explains why he chose a career in F1, and the remarkable day two top teams offered him a role. That led him to work in aerodynamics for McLaren, and he recalls a surprising early conversation he had with the team’s then-test driver, Lewis Hamilton.
McLaren’s former leader Ron Dennis, legendary car designer Adrian Newey, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and drivers Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg and George Russell also feature in Mike’s story.
He also explains how F1 engineering has become “more specialised” – and has advice for anyone who aspires to work in F1 car design…
Listen to his insightful interview on Beyond The Grid in the player below or head here to catch it on your preferred platform.
