Lewis Hamilton Does U-Turn as Mercedes ’Halve’ Red Bull Advantage in Formula 1 Title Development


Lewis Hamilton Does U-Turn as Mercedes ’Halve’ Red Bull Advantage in Formula 1 Title Development

Lewis Hamilton, Toto Wolff

One thing safe to say about the 2021 Formula 1 Championship would be that, it is highly unpredictable. Race after race, there have been instances which have shocked and stunned race fans. Now, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has revealed that Lewis Hamilton has made a u-turn in his stance on using the simulator. The seven-time Formula One world champion is starting to appreciate the benefits of Mercedes’ simulator amid his intense title battle with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. 

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Wolff has claimed Hamilton is now starting to appreciate ‘every single marginal gain’ the simulator offers after clinching his first win since the Spanish Grand Prix in May at Silverstone. After the British Grand Prix, Hamilton is now just one win and eight points behind leader Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship. Meanwhile, after outscoring their title rivals 43 points to three last time out, Mercedes now trail Red Bull by just four points in the Contructors’ standings

Toto Wolff Makes Interesting Revelation About Lewis Hamilton 

Max Verstappen on Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen

Earlier this season, Hamilton told former F1 driver Martin Brundle that he had little interest in training on the simulator. He said, “I hardly ever drive on the simulator. I maybe do 20 laps a year, maybe. I have no interest in the simulator.” 

Now Toto Wolff suggested, “Yes, the simulator wasn’t his most favourite tool in the past,” Wolff explained. “But I think we’ve developed it to a level that is quite good and made it best in class, and he’s started to see the benefits of it. This fight is so tough that you need to just grab every single marginal gain.

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Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton

“That’s why we’ve progressed together to better understand the car also with the tool of the simulator.” 

By stating the team has now halved the pace gap on Red Bull after bringing their last major upgrade package of the year to Silverstone, Wolff has encouraged Mercedes fans ahead of the remainder of the season. 

He said, “The upgrades weren’t big, but if you keep adding them up, it can make a difference.” 

Also read: “Max Verstappen has turned down Mercedes,” says Ralf Schumacher

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