Lewis Hamilton not a fan of simulators or track walks

Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he does not spend a lot of time in Mercedes' simulator, saying that he could learn just as much from a PlayStation.

In a time when teams are relying on simulators to make up for a lack of testing, Hamilton has dismissed the importance of the technology for drivers.

"I'm not often in our simulator because the system is not good at this time, we are working to improve that," Hamilton said. "I do not spend a lot of time in the simulator. When I drove for McLaren, I was far too often in the simulator. But I can also buy a PlayStation, you will learn just as much."

"In the simulator you feel no emotion. You have to adapt yourself to the simulator. In the car you drive just. In the simulator you can't feel the bumps, the curbs are different, the speed is different. You don't feel the speed, you don't feel how physical it is. Engineers might learn a lot about fuel efficiency, aerodynamics and power generation, but I do not like it."

He also played down the importance of track walks, revealing that he has not done one since 2010.

"Track walks are just like that. I stopped doing them in 2010 and it has had absolutely no impact . Maybe the others but does not work for me."

It doesn't appear to have slowed him down though, as he topped first practice in Baku, a track that Formula One is visiting for the first time this weekend.

AU Albert Park - 13 March 2015

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Ferrari
  • Points 3,574
  • Podiums 133
  • Grand Prix 235
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (41)
  • Place of b. Tewin, GB
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar