Hamilton fears Mercedes bouncing trouble

Lewis Hamilton has warned the Mercedes W14 will "bounce for the rest of the year" as he chases Sergio Perez for second in the Constructors' standings.

The Silver Arrows have struggled more than most with mechanical bouncing since F1 reintroduced ground-effect aerodynamics last season, as well as initially being hampered by aerodynamic porpoising.

The mechanical bouncing rears its head across the bumpier, more abrasive circuits for the Brackley-based outfit and creates a set-up headache.

With Mercedes holding off Ferrari for second in the standings, Hamilton's focus is on Perez ahead as the Mexican struggles for form and confidence, though the seven-time champion passed up an opportunity to close when crashing out of the Qatar Grand Prix at the first corner.

"This car is going to bounce for the rest of the year," Hamilton conceded when speaking to media including RacingNews365.com.

"But I feel optimistic for next year that it won't be a characteristic on the car.

"It comes and goes - some races it isn't bouncing and some races it is. But it is nowhere near as hardcore as when we had it [last year]."

Factory help

Having failed to mount a title challenge in the past two years and being forced into a development strategy change earlier this term, Mercedes is bidding to get back on track with a new car next season.

On how he can help back at the factory, Hamilton replied: "I'm not building or designing the car so I can't sit at a computer and help them redesign it.

"The best think I can do is deliver on the weekends, but I do continue to have lots of meetings back at the factory on so many different topics: about the car, ride quality, vehicle dynamics, whether it's suspension, steering, tyres - whatever it may be.

"We will continue to have that and I think we have a better process that we have ever had before, so it is much more engaging for George and I.

"We often have meetings where we are both in that room together, so we are able to deep dive on any questions that the engineers that don't potentially get to come to Grands Prix, they can ask.

"We will continue to do that to the end of the year and other than that... we give everything all the way to the end of the year and then we've got to let the guys go and do what they do best."