F1 News: Mercedes driver admits IGNORING team on race weekends

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Mercedes driver admits IGNORING team on race weekends

The driver has an unusual plan during race weekends

By Sam Cook.

Thursday 21 March 2024 00:00

A Mercedes-contracted driver has revealed how he deals with the team's communications during race weekends – which is to say, but not dealing with them.

Anthony Davidson is still a simulator and demonstration driver for Mercedes at the age of 44, which has the potential to clash with his punditry work for Sky Sports.

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Davidson used to boast a full-time seat in F1, when he drove with the Super Aguri team in 2007, and has also worked with Minardi, BAR and Honda in separate stints in the sport.

The Brit has become a fixture of F1 coverage in the UK, with his analysis of various technical aspects via the 'Sky Pad' entertaining viewers.

Anthony Davidson's analysis is often spot on

Anthony Davidson works with a state-of-the-art simulator

Davison's Mercedes role

Now, Davidson has revealed how he manages to continue to take an objective view on teams up and down the grid, despite working with the Brackley-based outfit.

“I don't really talk about it too much, the sim role, with Mercedes," he told the Sky Sports F1 podcast.

"I like to when I'm behind the microphone treat it as completely unbiased.

”Actually on a race weekend, I purposely completely cut all communication with the team. So I can be more genuine in my view, and also the way I anticipate their weekend or even comment on their weekend.

”In many ways, I'm maybe a bit more harsh on them than with other teams because I know the work that goes into behind the scenes with that team and I know that the blood sweat and tears that goes into operating such a successful F1 team.”

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