Hamilton sees chance to experiment in 'freebie' races

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With the championship wrapped up for both team and driver, Lewis Hamilton sees an opportunity to trial alternative "strategies or processes" in the final two races of the 2019 season.

Hamilton sealed his sixth world title in Austin while the Silver Arrow squad was crowned for the sixth consecutive time in Japan.

The atmosphere is anything but laid back in the German camp however as the outfit's competitive spirit remains intact. But Hamilton is nevertheless open to experimenting, especially as next year's on-track testing schedule will be reduced compared to 2019.

Hamilton: Future with Mercedes conditional on Wolff's personal plans

"I still want to win the races and it’s just as hard to win these races that are coming up," Hamilton said at Interlagos.

"It’s almost a different approach for me now because you can be a little bit more aggressive and try some different strategies and different ways in how you go about the weekend and the processes.

"We’ve basically got two freebies to try some new things that can [help] next year. Next year we only have six days as opposed to eight of testing.

"So every tiny bit of an advantage you can gain in terms of changing things and gaining and being dynamic hopefully can pay dividends next year, so that’s our goal."

©Mercedes

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has remained in Europe this weekend, missing a race for the first time since 2013, an absence which Hamilton jokingly welcomed, insisting it was akin to a "breath of fresh air' for the Silver Arrows troops.

"I think he has such a presence in this team that even whilst he’s not here he’s still here," Hamilton said on a more serious note.

"Everything that’s been set up is because of him and all the people that he’s put in place and everybody’s still here knuckling down as normal.

"Just because you don’t see them on the pit wall and don’t see them in the meetings but I know he’s done the debrief on the other end and listening to everything that we’re saying.

"So, I think everyone’s behaving as well as they can."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.