Lewis Hamilton secret simulator run "will get discussed" by teams

British Grand Prix

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Hamilton simulator run "will get discussed" by teams

Hamilton completed a simulator session at the Mercedes factory ahead of qualifying on Friday

Sam Hall

Saturday 17 July 2021 14:50

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Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has revealed Lewis Hamilton's Friday morning simulator session ahead of the British Grand Prix weekend "will get discussed".

F1 is trialling a new format at Silverstone which on Friday saw a single one-hour practice session prior to qualifying that set the grid for the maiden sprint race.

With Mercedes' Brackley base just 10 miles from the circuit, Hamilton made the most of the lack of morning running on Friday to spend time in the simulator, a tactic that paid off as he set the fastest time in qualifying.

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Although having no problem with this himself, Steiner confirmed the issue will be talked about at the next team principals' meeting.

“It is one race in the year and for sure somebody will make a meal out of it so let’s wait what is coming out of it," said Steiner.

"But I don’t know how much advantage you can get in the morning to go in the sim, not having been on the track before.

“But for sure it will get discussed in the future this thing.”

Haas bank on risks of others in sprint

For the sprint, a 17-lap, 100-kilometre race that will decide the grid for Sunday's grand prix, Haas duo Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin will start on the back row.

Despite the opportunity to score an elevated starting position for the grand prix, Steiner insists Haas will play things safe and instead look to progress through the failed risks of others.

"If you say we are where we are and then you say to take risks as well, where do you want to go?" questioned Steiner. "Because even if we take risks, if nothing happens, there will not be a big change to a normal race.

“So I think we need to wait more for an opportunity that somebody else takes a risk towards the front and there are some issues and we move up in the ranking via that one.

“I don’t think that taking risks by the performance of the car we have got that. That will not work out. I hope the other ones take a lot of risks.”