Mercedes ‘hold emergency meeting’ at their factory after Lewis Hamilton’s criticism over new car

Tensions have flared up inside the Mercedes camp, with the team’s technical director Mike Elliott being given an ‘ultimatum’ after a disappointing start to the 2023 season – according to reports. 

The seven-time world champion started the new Formula One season in disappointing fashion, placing only fifth in Bahrain and well down on runaway winner Max Verstappen and Red Bull.

Hamilton was furious after the race and vented his frustrations. As a result, Mercedes decided to hold an emergency team meeting at their factory late last night, according to reports. 

Mercedes are said to have discussed their issues in depth, while the team’s technical director was given an ultimatum as they planned for the reminder of the 2023 season – according to Formu1a.uno. 

It is believe Hamilton’s comments after the first Grand Prix of the season instigated the discussion that took place at the home of Mercedes. 

Tensions have flared up inside the Mercedes camp, with the team’s technical director Mike Elliott (above) being given an ‘ultimatum’ 

Mercedes endured a difficult start to the 2023 Formula 1 season with their new W14 car 

Seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton (above), started the new Formula One season in disappointing fashion, placing only fifth in Bahrain

Speaking directly after the race in Bahrain, Hamilton told the BBC: ‘Last year, I told them the issues that are with the car. I’ve driven so many cars in my life, so I know what a car needs, I know what a car doesn’t need. 

‘And I think it’s really about accountability, it’s about owning up and saying yeah, you know what, we didn’t listen to you, it’s not where it needs to be and we’ve got to work.’

Mercedes were under pressure to perform at the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix after a disappointing 2022 season. 

Their campaign last year was plagued by porpoising issues and the engineers at Brackley and Brixworth had hoped the W14 would see Mercedes return to the front of the grid. 

However, Hamilton and George Russell struggled to compete in the new car – with the seven-time world champion only managing fifth place at the Bahrain GP.

Hamilton’s comments after the race instilled fear in the Mercedes team and they are said to have held a meeting late last night at their factory in Brackley to discuss the issues. 

According to Formu1a.uno, the pressure is mounting on the team’s technical director Elliott and he was supposedly given an ‘ultimatum’. 

However, Toto Wolff insisted there were no issues within the team direct after the race in Bahrain.    

He said: ‘The Lewis situation is you heard him on the radio. He is an integral part of the team, picking the team up and we are all sticking together and I don’t think that is going to change just because we had a start that was really bad.

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen and Red Bull won the opening Grand Prix of the 2023 season

As a result, Mercedes held a late-night meeting at the team’s factory to discuss their issues

‘We have won eight constructors’ championships and six drivers’ championships with him and that relationship holds. 

‘As much as being transparent as to how we need to turn the car around, it is not the point to talk about the driver situation in 2024.

‘It is far too early, we need to all push in then same direction, the drivers, the engineers, all the management rather than throwing in the towel. We have never done that and we will not do it. 

‘We just need to really dig deep and deeper than we have every done and provide both drivers with a car they are able to fight with.’