Hamilton now sees 'benefits' of Mercedes sim tool – Wolff

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Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff says Lewis Hamilton's simulator session at Brackley ahead of the British Grand Prix weekend helped the seven-time world realise the tool's benefits.

After enduring five consecutive defeats against championship rival Red Bull, Mercedes spared no effort ahead of last weekend's Silverstone round to try and bridge the gap to the Milton Keynes-based outfit.

The Brackley squad rolled out an update package for its W12, which incited Hamilton to put in the hours in the team's simulator – a rare undertaking for the Mercedes driver – to trial various settings before hitting the track.

The Briton even spent time in the sim on Friday morning ahead of the weekend's first practice session in order to perfect the team's preparations for what is believed would be a crucial weekend.

"I was just putting in the time, trying to give absolutely everything and leave no stone unturned," he revealed after setting the fastest time in qualifying.

"We did a practice session and just trying to develop it, trying to give the guys as much information as possible as we’re developing the car."
Mercedes usually relies on former F1 driver Anthony Davidson for its sim sessions, in terms of preparation or development.

But Wolff believes that this year's fierce title fight coupled with the tool's development over the years finally convinced Hamilton of the sim's value.

Read also: Mercedes braced for Red Bull fightback in Hungary

"Yeah the simulator wasn’t his most favourite tool in the past 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," the Austrian explained.

"This fight is so tough that you need to just grab every single marginal gain and that’s why we’ve progressed together to better understand the car also with the tool of the simulator.

"We halved the [car's] deficit in terms of performance and you just need to mobilise everything in your arsenal of weapons and that’s what he’s doing as a driver and we as a team."

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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.