Mercedes Unveils Causes Behind Lewis Hamilton’s Scorching Cockpit at Italian GP

Mercedes disclose the reasons behind Lewis Hamilton's overheated seat during the Italian Grand Prix.

Mercedes' head of trackside engineering, Andrew Shovlin, has clarified why Lewis Hamilton was experiencing issues with a hot seat during the Italian Grand Prix F1 weekend.

On Friday, Hamilton expressed his discomfort about the heat of the seat during practice.

Hamilton compared the heat inside his Mercedes to being “extremely hot,” saying it felt like “being in a sauna without any shorts.”

Throughout the weekend, temperatures soared past 30 degrees, leading to excessive heat inside the cockpit.

"The primary reason was that Monza experienced very high temperatures," Shovlin stated on the team's YouTube channel. "The seat and the car typically operate at high temperatures, and the power unit generates substantial heat that needs to be dispersed."

“There are numerous electronic devices that operate intensively, producing heat, which needs to be expelled from the cockpit.”

Shovlin mentioned that the contact between the plank beneath the car and the track would have produced heat.

He explained that on the straightaways in Monza, the car's planks occasionally scrape the road, creating friction that generates heat. This heat then conducts up through the car's floor and reaches the driver's seat.

"When the surrounding temperature is at 34 degrees, nothing can be cooler than that. Additionally, there are multiple heat sources that increase the temperature further, causing the cockpit to become significantly hotter than the driver's body. As a result, it becomes extremely challenging for them to cool down, and the heat keeps accumulating."

"They've become accustomed to navigating these challenging conditions, but during the hottest races, it gets quite intense and truly puts them to the test."

Mercedes had a disappointing weekend at Monza, securing fifth and seventh place finishes.

In an effort to address extreme heat, Shovlin disclosed that teams are continually seeking methods to "enhance conditions for the drivers."

He explained that despite extensive training, including in high-temperature conditions, once the cockpit becomes hotter than the pilots themselves, it becomes nearly impossible to cool down.

"We are currently exploring methods to enhance conditions for our drivers. Similarly, the sport is investigating how to incorporate extra gear into the cars during these particularly tough races to help keep drivers cooler. Nonetheless, it's a highly demanding environment, which is why extensive training is essential."

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