F1 Report guests feel mechanics swapping sides of the garage has had no influence on results of Rosberg or Hamilton
Thursday 28 April 2016 09:46, UK
Mercedes swapping some mechanics between their two cars this season has not had an impact on the performances of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, according to this week's F1 Report guests.
Around five members of staff have changed on the two sides of the garage this season, with some being swapped and other alterations caused by staff turnover.
Rosberg has won the opening three races of the season since the changes were made and has opened up a 36-point lead over Hamilton in the championship standings.
However, the F1 Report guests feel the German's run of form has nothing to do with personnel changes.
"I don't think it is all that significant to be honest because they didn't swap the race engineers and that is where the real technical programme for each driver tends to eminent from," former Williams senior operations engineer Dominic Harlow told the F1 Report.
"In terms of data of transparency and sharing ideas and that data that is all the same.
"I think it is just helpful when people are in pressure jobs like that that they do get to do something different and that there are changes just to keep your job with some variety and some fresh motivation."
Indeed, even before the changes were made, Rosberg was already on his current run of form with victories in the final three races of 2015.
"I don't think it has a big differential in terms of performance, but I think it is something that has worked well within the team," said former McLaren number one mechanic Marc Priestley.
"The guys that are on Nico's car now that were on Lewis's last year have already bonded well in their own little crews, so the relationships are all fine and it seems to be working very well on both sides.
"Let's not forget Lewis is not struggling, he's had some bad luck, there will come a time very soon when he's back on song, the car is working perfectly and we will get some great battles."
But why then would Mercedes make the change if it was going to have no impact on performance?
"I think it is to head any criticism or speculation favouritism or one driver having preferential treatment or better people on his side of the garage than the other," added Priestley.
"I don't think anyone was saying that, but I think Mercedes just wanted to make sure they've a completely open and clear atmosphere in the team of complete parity on both sides."
"We get it wrong sometimes, but they've actually done it pretty well in their first few races."
