The seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton says he has not used the team’s simulator ahead of Montreal, despite describing it as one of the most advanced tools in Formula 1.
Instead, he is relying heavily on data analysis and direct work with his engineers to prepare for the race at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
Hamilton has raised concerns in the past about how closely simulator performance matches on-track behaviour, pointing again to what he sees as “correlation” issues after recent races.
“The sim is amazing. It’s the best I’ve ever seen,” Hamilton explained, while also stressing that time spent there does not always translate cleanly to race weekends. “You do all the work in the sim, then you arrive at the track and things can feel completely different.”
He added that this weekend is a deliberate test of his approach. “I’m just going to sit it out and focus more on the data,” he said, highlighting work on brake balance, cornering behaviour and mechanical setup with his engineers.
Hamilton also reflected on his long history with simulation tools, dating back to his early days in 1997, but admitted the experience has often been inconsistent.
He pointed to Singapore in 2012 as one of the rare occasions where simulator setup matched perfectly with qualifying performance.
While not ruling out future simulator use, Hamilton believes the balance between virtual preparation and real-world feedback still needs refining. His performance in Canada will offer a key indicator of whether his data-led approach can deliver stronger results this weekend.
